Year: 2021

Beginning in early March 2020, the Cayman Islands swiftly and effectively closed its borders to international travel and cruise traffic to protect travelers and residents from the global pandemic.The new five-phase approach to reopening will continue to safeguard the Caymanian population, while also carefully allowing international visitors to enjoy Cayman Islands once again. Once the country has completed all five phases and following a thorough assessment from the Government and health officials, the Cayman Islands will celebrate its Grand Re-Opening. Those who have been dreaming of white sandy beaches, turquoise water, and bespoke luxury in the Cayman Islands can soon make their dreams a reality: the Cayman Islands has announced plans to begin safely welcoming back tourists to Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman via an intentional phased reopening approach. “Since March 2020, the Cayman Islands has been deliberate in all efforts to protect our people and visitors; from rapid and widespread testing, investing in the Caymanian workforce and implementing a phased strategy to safely reopen our shores to luxury-seeking visitors, the health and safety of our community was paramount in all decisions,” said Minister for Tourism and Transport, Hon. Kenneth Bryan. “My colleagues and I in government have worked tirelessly to develop this phased approach in preparation for the opening of our borders to international travelers – and we are pleased to announce the wait for paradise is almost over! Our guests will appreciate the impactful developments and enhancements we’ve made to the destination – surely proving that Cayman is worth the wait.” Beginning in early March 2020, the Cayman Islands swiftly and effectively closed its borders to international travel and cruise traffic to protect travelers and residents from the global pandemic and emerged from the crisis as a beacon of hope, preserving the picturesque sunrise, friendly stingray kisses, world-class cuisine, and warm Caymankindness for years to come. The new five-phase approach to reopening will continue to safeguard the Caymanian population, while also carefully allowing international visitors to enjoy the sun, sand, sea and safety of Cayman once again.  The Cayman Islands Government (CIG) has worked closely with health authorities, public sector, and private sector to develop this five-phase approach to ensure a safe and healthy experience for those working in the industry and the visitors who choose to experience the bespoke luxury that the island destination is known for across the globe. 

Domestic tourism revenue stood at 1.95 trillion yuan – up by 208% year on year.83.6% of interviewed residents are willing to travel in the third quarter, almost equal to the level before COVID-19.78% of surveyed traveling company entrepreneurs have confidence in the tourism market in the second half of 2021. According to the report released by the China Tourism Academy (CTA), Chinese travelers made 2.36 billion domestic trips in the first half of 2021 – a 153% increase from the same period last year. China‘s domestic tourism revenue stood at 1.95 trillion yuan (about $301 billion) in H1 2021 – up by 208% year on year. China‘s tourism industry welcomed a fast recovery in the first half of 2021. Domestic trips and tourism revenue had recovered to about 77% and 70%t, respectively, of the level of the first half of 2019. Both tourists and tour operators displayed strong confidence. According to the CTA, 83.6% of interviewed residents are willing to travel in the third quarter, almost equal to the level before COVID-19, and 78% of surveyed traveling company entrepreneurs have confidence in the tourism market in the second half of 2021. The report expects China to receive about 2.6 billion domestic trips and 2.24 trillion yuan in tourism revenue in the second half of 2021, or 88% and 76%, respectively, of the level of the same period of 2019. 

The lack of international coordination to agree on a list of approved vaccines, is creating yet another major stumbling block for the restart of international travel.Reports of holidaymakers facing obstacles to entry have been on the rise, with some even being prevented from boarding their flights to destinations.The failure of countries to agree on a common list of all approved and recognized vaccines is a concern. The restart of international travel could be seriously delayed without worldwide reciprocal recognition of all approved COVID-19 vaccines, says the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). The global tourism body, which represents the global private Travel & Tourism sector, has issued its warning following concerns tourists face being turned away at the borders because countries don’t have a common list internationally recognized and approved COVID-19 vaccines. This comes just days after a number of British holidaymakers, who had been administered the Indian Covishield batch of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, were rejected entry into Malta despite the drug being chemically identical to the UK-made vaccine. Over the past few weeks reports of holidaymakers facing obstacles to entry have been on the rise, with some even being prevented from boarding their flights to destinations. WTTC believes that once again, the lack of international coordination to agree on a list of approved vaccines, is creating yet another major stumbling block for the restart of international travel. This comes despite most vaccines have secured the approval of the World Health Organisation (WHO) or Stringent Regulatory Authorities (SRAs), such as the UK’s the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the Food and Drug Administration in the US, and the European Medicines Agency (EMA). Reports of travelers being turned away because they have the ‘wrong’ vaccine batches or ‘unrecognized’ vaccines have fueled concern from consumers, deterring them from booking and thereby damaging the already struggling Travel & Tourism sector.

Ethiopian Airlines Cargo and Logistics Services has been working with Liege airport for its freighter operations between Africa and Europe.In collaboration with Liege Airport, Ethiopian Cargo and Logistics Services has been providing fast and secure cargo transportation service across Europe and beyond for 15 years.In the future a dedicated cargo hub can be established in Liege North, for which Ethiopian was the launch customer to start with. Ethiopian Airlines Cargo and Logistics Services and Liege Airport have announced that they have renewed their long standing partnership agreement until 2026. Liege Airport, Belgium’s largest cargo airport and the 6th largest cargo airport in Europe, will continue to be Ethiopian Airlines cargo hub serving as a freighter gateway between Africa and Europe for the next five years. Ethiopian Airlines Cargo and Logistics Services, Africa’s largest cargo network operator, has been working with Liege airport for its freighter operations between Africa and Europe. Ethiopian Airlines Cargo and Logistics Services Acting Managing Director, Mr. Enquanhone Minyashal said “We are glad to have renewed our partnership agreement with our long-standing partner airport at a time when we are registering tremendous growth in our cargo destinations and capacity. In collaboration with Liege Airport, Ethiopian Cargo and Logistics Services has been providing fast and secure cargo transportation service across Europe and beyond for the last 15 years of successful cooperation. In the next five years, we will work to transform our freighter operation to serve Europe better with our renewed commitment with Liege Airport. As the largest pan African carrier, Ethiopian Airlines will continue to strengthen its partnership with Liege Airport to boost its freighter operations between Africa and Europe.” Steven Verhasselt, VP Commercial of Liege Airport said “First of all, Liege Airport would like to congratulate Ethiopian Airlines and all its staff and partners a very happy 75th birthday. It is with great pride that we are part of the Ethiopian’s success story for almost 15 years and LGG will continue to be Ethiopian Airline’s cargo hub in Europe. Looking back from the start to where we are today, Ethiopian has already operated 15,000 freighter flights into LGG, approaching an incredible 1 million tons of cargo carried. Still, Steven Verhasselt highlights, this is the past and can be considered as a very impressive start. Today, we celebrate the future. Ethiopian and LGG have renewed their partnership agreement that not only confirms the European Cargo hub in LGG for the next 5 years but also states that Ethiopian will become much more than an airline flying into LGG. In the future a dedicated cargo hub can be established in Liege North, for which Ethiopian was the launch customer to start with. We are very much looking forward to this next step that will help Ethiopian to serve its customers even better. More than ever, LGG will be the hub for Ethiopian and the main freighter gateway between Africa and Europe.” According to the African Airlines Association’s (AFRAA) report, Ethiopian has been ranked first by passenger and cargo traffic in 2020. Ethiopian carried 500 thousand tons of freight and 5.5 million passengers through its main hub, Addis Ababa Bole International Airport.

SriLankan Airlines is going to run one regular weekly flight on Saturdays.The arrival time to Domodedovo is 4:30 a.m., the departure time – 7:15 p.m.The service will resume starting from July 31, 2021. The national air carrier of Sri Lanka, SriLankan Airlines, is resuming flights from Moscow Domodedovo Airport to Colombo starting from July 31, 2021. Domodedovo is the only airport of the Moscow Aviation Hub from which passengers can fly directly to this destination. The air carrier is going to run one regular weekly flight on Saturdays. The arrival time to Domodedovo is 4:30 a.m., the departure time – 7:15 p.m. “This is a significant air link for SriLankan Airlines as we connect to the largest country in the world which is also known as one of the greatest cultural and historic destinations. This operation would offer a new and easy travel path in connecting the Russian Federation and surrounding countries. We are eagerly awaiting to welcome Russian visitors in Sri Lanka and passengers onboard our flights to Russia”, stated SriLankan Airlines CEO Vipula Gunatilleka. Previously this air carrier and Domodedovo cooperated from 2011 to 2015, the passenger traffic amounted to 115,000 passengers. “Currently Colombo is seen as a very unique destination for the Moscow Aviation Hub”, noted the director of Moscow Domodedovo Airport Andrey Pavlov. – The arrival of SriLankan Airlines on the Russian market will open many opportunities for tourist development of our countries. We are sure that our previous successful experience of partnership will allow us to effectively work in the future”. SriLankan Airlines became the first carrier in the South Asian region to receive the ‘Diamond’ rating from the Airline Passengers Experience Association (APEX) and SimpliFlying, a standard received for the extra safety measures and comprehensive hygiene precautions adhered to since the onset of the global pandemic. SriLankan Airlines is an award-winning airline with a firm reputation as a global leader in service, comfort, safety, reliability, and punctuality.

New multimedia Visitor Center that will open soon in Concourse C of Terminal 1.The popular airport tours will also resume in early August.“Smart windows” use virtual reality to supplement the apron panorama with real-time data on parked aircraft. Frankfurt Airport is gaining another attraction: a new multimedia Visitor Center that will open soon in Concourse C of Terminal 1. The new facility puts the fascinating world of Germany’s largest airport at visitors’ fingertips. It’s an opportunity for airport fans of all ages to explore the aviation business with all of their senses. How about slipping into the role of marshaller and guiding a jet into its parking position? You can do it here! Or hurtling through the winding tunnels of the airport’s automated baggage conveyor system? Just put on a virtual reality headset and start the exhilarating Motion Ride! The exhibition’s centerpiece, The Globe, also lets you playfully experience worldwide aviation in action – and learn about the important role that Frankfurt Airport plays in it. The path through the exhibition spanning 1,200 square meters is indicated by glowing overhead stripes that precisely match the paths used by giant aircraft to take off and land. Right at the start, a 55-square-meter model of the Airport City (at a scale of 1:750) invites guests to embark on a virtual voyage of discovery. This detailed replica of the entire airport and its 400-odd buildings can be interactively explored using an iPad. Over 80 digital points of interest deliver a wealth of interesting information in the form of texts, videos and 3D animations. “Smart windows” use virtual reality to supplement the apron panorama with real-time data on parked aircraft. Engrossing stories about zeppelins and the Berlin Airlift can also be enjoyed during a trip back in time. “The Globe”, a gigantic interactive LED wall comprising 28 monitor screens, visualizes all ongoing flights between FRA and other points worldwide in real time. It’s an impressive way to experience the enormous web of global connections and the complexity of international aviation. The popular airport tours will also resume in early August. The Starter Tour lasts 45 minutes and includes live narration to provide a fascinating stream of figures, data and facts on the airport and its activities. The 120-minute XXL Tour provides a more extensive look behind the scenes. Guests get to watch ground handling operations, takeoffs and landings while passing close to aircraft, and also catch glimpses of the new fire station number 1 and the construction project to build the new Terminal 3 in the south of the airport. The perfect way to round out an excursion to the airport is to enjoy the view from the popular Visitors’ Terrace. This platform at Terminal 2 provides a bird’s-eye perspective of planes from around the world landing and taking off and the bustling activity on the airport apron. To celebrate its reopening, admission is free of charge for a limited time – to cap the number of visitors at any given time, however, it is necessary to reserve a time slot. Reservations are required for all of the facilities and can be made in the ticket shop at www.fra-tours.com. Unfortunately, it is not yet possible to do so on site. During the summer school holidays in the German state of Hesse, guests of the Visitor Center can park free of charge in FRA’s public parking facilities: simply take a ticket when driving in and get it validated at the entrance of the Visitor Center. Also for day trippers, Frankfurt Airport is always a worthwhile destination – naturally while complying with the current rules to prevent infection. Important to know: like the Visitors’ Terrace, the multimedia Fraport Visitor Center can also be booked for holding events of all kinds. 

There’s a broad range of attractive offerings at FRA, from leading German and international brands to locally popular proprietor-led shops and restaurants.Brands including Boss, Falke, Llyod, and Gant beckon with summer discounts and glimpses of the new winter collections.You’ll also find an extensive selection of beauty products in the new Duty Free store opened by Frankfurt Airport Retail GmbH & Co. KG in the non-Schengen transit area of Pier B in Terminal 1. Welcome back to Frankfurt Airport! More and more people are longing to travel again, and passenger volumes at the airport are expanding as a result. Numerous shops and restaurants are also reopening to serve them, and will be ready to welcome you in Terminals 1 and 2 right on time for the start of the summer school holidays in the German state of Hesse on July 16. “Finally we’re able to offer our passengers a full range of shopping and dining opportunities again,” says Anke Giesen, Fraport AG’s executive board member responsible for retail and real estate. “Together we’re gradually returning to normality after the the pandemic-induced dry stretch. And we have every reason to look ahead with optimism.” There’s a broad range of attractive offerings at FRA, from leading German and international brands to locally popular proprietor-led shops and restaurants. In Terminal 1, passengers and visitors can visit the “Shopping Boulevard” and “Shopping Avenue” malls. Brands including Boss, Falke, Llyod, and Gant beckon with summer discounts and glimpses of the new winter collections. You can also head for one of seven recently reopened Travel Value and Duty Free shops to find an exquisite perfume or gifts for your loved ones at home, or any of a wide range of other attractive products. How about a tasty latte macchiato before taking off? The teams of some 80 cafés and restaurants are overjoyed to be serving guests again. If you wish to dine inside a restaurant, you need to present evidence that you are fully vaccinated or recovered or have recently tested negative. However, all foods and beverages can also be ordered to take away. The Food Plaza on the top level of Terminal 2 offers guests a breathtaking view of the action out on the airfield and airport apron.

With 192 destinations, the airline offers even more flight destinations from Frankfurt this summer.Lufthansa offers more than 1,800 weekly connections, 55 percent of the connections from pre-Corona times.Comprehensive hygiene protection concept, which the Lufthansa Group introduced at the beginning of the pandemic, continues to ensure safe flying. Start of the vacations in Hesse: 76,000 people take off on vacation with Lufthansa from Frankfurt Airport on the first vacation weekend. With 192 destinations, the airline offers even more flight destinations from Frankfurt than in the summer of 2019 and, with more than 1,800 weekly connections, 55 percent of the connections from pre-Corona times, with a rising trend. At the same time, many states continue to require additional documents such as test or vaccination certificates. For this reason, Lufthansa recommends that its passengers obtain information in advance and arrive at the airport on time. Those who are worried about not having the right certificates for the trip can have them checked by a Lufthansa Service Center on selected flights up to 72 hours before departure. These can include proof of tests, survived COVID-19 disease and vaccinations. Confirmations of digital entry applications can also be checked. This ensures in advance that the required documents are available. Lufthansa recommends that its guests continue to carry the original printed certificates with them on the trip, in addition to the digital proof. Which documents are necessary and where COVID-19 tests can also be made for the return journey can be found on the Lufthansa website. For return travel to Germany, antigen self-tests using the video-ident procedure are now also accepted and can also be purchased online. For a relaxed trip, Lufthansa recommends using the wide range of online services for check-in and baggage check-in. At Frankfurt Airport, passengers can check in their baggage free of charge at the existing drive-through from now until the end of the vacations. This is conveniently possible from 23 to two hours before departure, if required also directly combined with a drive-through COVID test.

Do not require proof of COVID-19 vaccination as a mandatory condition for entry or exit.Remove measures such as testing and/or quarantine requirements for travelers who are fully vaccinated or have had a confirmed previous COVID-19 infection within the past six months.Ensure alternative pathways for unvaccinated individuals through testing so that they are able to travel internationally. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) called on states to follow new guidance on travel from the World Health Organization (WHO). The guidance recommends a “risk-based approach” to implementing measures related to COVID-19 and international travel. It will be presented to the WHO COVID-19 International Health Regulations Emergency Committee on Thursday 15 July. Specifically, WHO recommended that governments: Do not require proof of COVID-19 vaccination as a mandatory condition for entry or exit. Remove measures such as testing and/or quarantine requirements for travelers who are fully vaccinated or have had a confirmed previous COVID-19 infection within the past six months. Ensure alternative pathways for unvaccinated individuals through testing so that they are able to travel internationally. The WHO recommends rRT-PCR tests or antigen detection rapid diagnostic tests (Ag-RDTs) for this purpose. Only implement test and/or quarantine measures for international travelers “on a risk-based manner” with policies on testing and quarantine regularly reviewed to ensure they are lifted when no longer necessary. “These commonsense, risk-based recommendations from WHO, if followed by states, will allow for international air travel to resume while minimizing the chance of importing COVID-19. As WHO notes—and as the latest UK testing data proves—international travelers are not a high-risk group in terms of COVID-19. Out of 1.65 million tests carried out on arriving international passengers in the UK since February, only 1.4% were positive for COVID-19. It’s long past time for governments to incorporate data into risk-based decision-making process for re-opening borders,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General. 

Aviation is committed to decarbonization as a global industry.Sustainable Aviation Fuels which reduce emissions by up to 80% compared to traditional jet fuel.Aviation’s near-term vision is to provide sustainable, affordable air transport for all European citizens with SAF-powered fleets, operating with efficient air traffic management. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) warned that the reliance on taxation as the solution for cutting aviation emissions in the EU’s ‘Fit for 55’ proposal is counter-productive to the goal of sustainable aviation. EU policy needs to support practical emission reduction measures such as incentives for Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) and modernization of air traffic management.  “Aviation is committed to decarbonization as a global industry. We don’t need persuading, or punitive measures like taxes to motivate change. In fact, taxes siphon money from the industry that could support emissions’ reducing investments in fleet renewal and clean technologies. To reduce emissions, we need governments to implement a constructive policy framework that, most immediately, focuses on production incentives for SAF and delivering the Single European Sky,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General. Comprehensive Approach Achieving aviation decarbonization requires a combination of measures. These include: Sustainable Aviation Fuels which reduce emissions by up to 80% compared to traditional jet fuel. Insufficient supply and high prices have limited airline uptake to 120 million liters in 2021 — a small fraction of the 350 billion liters that airlines would consume in a ‘normal’ year. Market-based measures to manage emissions until technology solutions are fully developed. The industry supports the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) as a global measure for all international aviation. It avoids creating a patchwork of uncoordinated national or regional measures such as the EU Emissions Trading Scheme, that can undermine international cooperation. Overlapping schemes can lead to the same emissions being paid for more than once. IATA is extremely concerned by the Commission’s proposal that European States would no longer implement CORSIA on all international flights. Single European Sky (SES) to reduce unnecessary emissions from fragmented air traffic management (ATM) and resulting inefficiencies. Modernizing European ATM through the SES initiative would cut  Europe’s aviation emissions between 6-10%, but national governments continue to delay implementation.  Radical new clean technologies. While it is unlikely that electric or hydrogen propulsion could have a significant impact on aviation emissions within the EU ‘Fit for 55’ timeframe of 2030, the development of these technologies is ongoing and needs to be supported. “Aviation’s near-term vision is to provide sustainable, affordable air transport for all European citizens with SAF-powered fleets, operating with efficient air traffic management. We should all be worried that the EU’s big idea to decarbonize aviation is making jet fuel more expensive through tax. That will not get us to where we need to be. Taxation will destroy jobs. Incentivizing SAF will improve energy independence and create sustainable jobs. The focus must be on encouraging the production of SAF, and delivering the Single European Sky,” said Walsh.  

The two brands, Air Astana and our LCC FlyArystan, have both performed well on domestic routes.Passengers carried by Air Astana Group increased by 91% to 2.97 million.Whether the recovery will be sustainable will come down to a race between COVID variants and vaccine take-up. Kazakhstan’s Air Astana Group has registered a net profit of US$4.9 million for the first six months of 2021, recovering from a loss of US$66.2 million for the period January to June 2020. Passengers carried increased by 91% to 2.97 million, of which 2.5 million were carried on domestic routes, an increase of 125%. Commenting on the turnaround, President & CEO Peter Foster ”The two brands, Air Astana and our LCC FlyArystan, have both performed well on domestic routes. Strong market growth and a preference for air travel over long rail journeys have transformed Kazakhstan into the world’s fastest growing domestic market, with 31% passenger growth over 2019, undoubtedly stimulated by FlyArystan’s ultra-low fares.” FlyArystan was launched in May 2019. Whilst international capacity remains at 45% of the level of 2019, Foster pointed out that “higher yields on regional routes, coupled with high demand on ‘lifestyle’ routes to The Maldives, Red Sea, Montenegro, Dubai, Turkey, Georgia and Sri Lanka, have also contributed to the turnaround, assisted by regular cargo charters on our converted Boeing 767”. Foster cautioned on guidance for the remainder of the year however. “COVID case numbers are again moving in the wrong direction in Central Asia and many of the countries to where we are flying. Whether the recovery will be sustainable will come down to a race between COVID variants and vaccine take-up.”     Air Astana is a joint venture owned by the Samruk Kazyna Wealth Fund (51%) and BAE Systems PLC 49%). It presently operates 36 aircraft of which 10 A320s are operated by FlyArystan.

Electric aircraft set to take flight under new agreements with United Airlines Ventures, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Mesa Airlines and Heart Aerospace.United Airlines signs agreement to acquire 100 of Heart Aerospace’s ES-19 aircraft, a 19-seat electric airliner that has the potential to decarbonize regional air travel.United Express regional partner, Mesa Airlines, also signs agreement to acquire 100 of the electric aircraft. United Airlines Ventures (UAV) announced today it, along with Breakthrough Energy Ventures (BEV) and Mesa Airlines, has invested in electric aircraft startup Heart Aerospace. Heart Aerospace is developing the ES-19, a 19-seat electric aircraft that has the potential to fly customers up to 250 miles before the end of this decade. In addition to UAV’s investment, United Airlines has conditionally agreed to purchase 100 ES-19 aircraft, once the aircraft meet United’s safety, business and operating requirements. Mesa Airlines, United’s key strategic partner in bringing electric aircraft into commercial service, has also agreed to add 100 ES-19 aircraft to its fleet, subject to similar requirements. UAV is building a portfolio of companies that focus on innovative sustainability concepts and create the technologies and products necessary to build a carbon-neutral airline and reach United’s net-zero greenhouse gas emissions goals. With this new agreement, United is deepening its bold commitment to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions 100% by 2050 without relying on traditional carbon offsets, as well as enabling the growth of Heart Aerospace and participating in the development of aircraft that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions from flying. “Breakthrough Energy Ventures is the leading voice of investors who are supporting clean-energy technology creation. We share their view that we have to build companies who have real potential to change how industries operate and, in our case, that means investing in companies like Heart Aerospace who are developing a viable electric airliner,” said Michael Leskinen, United’s Vice President Corp Development & Investor Relations, as well as UAV’s President. “We recognize that customers want even more ownership of their own carbon emissions footprint. We’re proud to partner with Mesa Air Group to bring electric aircraft to our customers earlier than any other US airliner.  Mesa’s long serving CEO, Jonathan Ornstein has shown visionary leadership in the field of electric-powered flight.” UAV and BEV are among the first investors in Heart Aerospace, demonstrating confidence in Heart’s design and creating potential for Heart to fast track the ES-19 introduction to market as early as 2026. “Aviation is such a critical piece of our global economy. At the same time, it’s a major source of carbon emissions and one of the most difficult sectors to decarbonize,” said Carmichael Roberts, Breakthrough Energy Ventures. “We believe electric aircraft can be transformational in reducing the emissions of the industry, and enable low cost, quiet and clean regional travel on a broad scale. Heart’s visionary team is developing an aircraft around its proprietary electric motor technology that will allow airlines to operate at a fraction of the cost of today and has the potential to change the way we fly.”

Qatar to establish its own Flight Information Region in its airspace.Qatar to withdraw from an agreement signed with Bahrain, under which it had delegated its air navigation services.The proposal represents one of the sovereign rights of the State of Qatar. Qatar announced today that the UN’s International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) gave preliminary approval to country’s proposal to control its own airspace, months after settling a row with its Gulf neighbors. According to Qatari officials, the UN body has given its consent ‘in principle’ to let Qatar establish its own Flight Information Region (FIR) in its airspace. ICAO’s decision was in response to a request from Qatar to withdraw from an agreement signed with neighboring Gulf state of Bahrain, under which it had delegated its air navigation services. A three-year rift with group of neighboring Gulf states led by Saudi Arabia had highlighted the flaws in the deal, which left Qatar completely reliant on access to airspace controlled by other countries. The ICAO “agreed, in principle… with the establishment of a Doha Flight Information Region (FIR) and Doha Search and Rescue Region (SRR)” at talks last month, Qatar’s transport and communications ministry said in a statement. It would “include Qatar’s sovereign airspace and, to optimize safety and efficiency of the regional airspace, other contiguous airspace over the high seas”, it added. Qatar’s proposal also covered “its intention to withdraw from the current arrangement whereby it has delegated to Bahrain the provision of air navigation services over its sovereign territory”. “The proposal represents one of the sovereign rights of the State of Qatar and demonstrates the huge investments made by Qatar to develop its air navigation system,” Qatar’s Transport Minister Jassim Al-Sulaiti said in the statement.

The pandemic provided Delta with unique business opportunities to add newer generation aircraft at attractive prices.Delta to add add 29 used Boeing 737-900ERs and 7 used Airbus A350-900s to fleet.Widebody fleet renewal is instrumental to Delta’s recovery, and will help position Delta for sustained profitability and future growth. Delta Air Lines has entered into agreements to add 29 used Boeing 737-900ERs and lease seven used Airbus A350-900s as it continues to streamline and modernize its fleet. The 36 additional aircraft will improve fuel efficiency and enhance the customer experience, while supporting Delta’s fleet renewal strategy focused on simplification, scale, size and sustainability. “These aircraft are an investment in Delta’s future,” said Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian. “As we look past the pandemic, Delta’s disciplined, innovative approach to fleet renewal positions us for growth as travel demand returns, while enhancing the customer experience and supporting our sustainability commitments.” The COVID-19 pandemic provided an opportunity to simplify Delta’s fleet and accelerate retirements of 18 widebody 777s, and the MD-88 and MD-90 narrowbody fleets, all of them older and less efficient. The pandemic also provided unique business opportunities to add newer generation aircraft at attractive prices. Widebody fleet renewal is instrumental to Delta’s recovery, and will help position Delta for sustained profitability and future growth. As Delta’s flagship aircraft, the A350 provides a world-class customer experience, enhances cargo capacity, reduces unit costs and contributes to a more sustainable future. The next-generation A350s burn 21 percent less fuel per seat than the 777s they replace. Improved fuel efficiency is paramount to Delta’s ongoing efforts to reduce its carbon emissions and its Flight to Net Zero. The acquisition of 29 narrowbody 737-900ERs also complement Delta’s existing fleet. Delta will lease the A350s through AerCap and purchase 27 of the 737-900ERs from funds managed by Castlelake, L.P., while the remaining two 737-900ERs will be financed from funds also managed by Castlelake, L.P. Both transactions are subject to closing conditions. Deliveries of the aircraft will be completed by the first quarter of 2022, and they will enter service after modifications are completed. In addition to the seven A350s that are part of this announcement, Delta currently has 15 A359s in service and 20 on order. The addition of the 29 737-900ERs will bring the total to 159 in its fleet. The agreement follows Delta’s decision in April to exercise options on 25 additional A321neo jets, which will start to deliver next year. Those aircraft offer the lowest seat costs in Delta’s fleet.

Frankfurt Airport (FRA) served some 1.78 million passengers in the reporting month.The growth momentum in cargo traffic at FRA continued despite the ongoing shortage of belly capacity normally provided by passenger aircraft.The Fraport Group’s airports around the world also recorded noticeable traffic growth in June 2021. In June 2021, passenger traffic continued to recover, despite the ongoing and widespread impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Frankfurt Airport (FRA) served some 1.78 million passengers in the reporting month. This represents an increase of nearly 200 percent versus June 2020. However, this figure is based on a low benchmark value recorded in June 2020, when traffic was down amid surging COVID-19 infection rates. In the reporting month, the decline in COVID-19 incidence rates and the further lifting of travel restrictions continued to positively impact traffic demand. For the first time since the outbreak of the pandemic, Frankfurt Airport again welcomed more than 80,000 passengers in a single day, recorded on two separate days in June 2021.  When compared with pre-pandemic June 2019, FRA registered another noticeable passenger decline of 73.0 percent in the reporting month. During the first half of 2021, FRA served some 6.5 million passengers. Compared to the same six-month period in 2020 and 2019, this represents a decrease of 46.6 percent and 80.7 percent respectively. In contrast, the growth momentum in cargo traffic at FRA continued despite the ongoing shortage of belly capacity normally provided by passenger aircraft. In June 2021, cargo throughput (comprising airfreight and airmail) jumped by 30.6 percent year-on-year to 190,131 metric tons – the second highest volume ever recorded in a June month at FRA. Compared to June 2019, cargo was up 9.0 percent. This robust growth underscores Frankfurt Airport’s position as Europe’s leading airfreight hub. Aircraft movements climbed by just over 114 percent year-on-year to 20,010 takeoffs and landings. Accumulated maximum takeoff weights (MTOWs) rose by 78.9 percent to about 1.36 million metric tons in June 2021. The Fraport Group’s airports around the world also recorded noticeable traffic growth in June 2021. At some airports, traffic increased by several hundred percent – albeit based on a sharply reduced traffic level in June 2020. Passenger numbers at all of the airports in Fraport’s international portfolio were still well below the pre-pandemic levels of June 2019. Slovenia’s Ljubljana Airport (LJU) welcomed 27,953 passengers in the reporting month. At the Brazilian airports of Fortaleza (FOR) and Porto Alegre (POA), total traffic climbed to 608,088 passengers. In Peru’s capital, Lima Airport (LIM) welcomed 806,617 passengers in June 2021. The 14 Greek regional airports served about 1.5 million passengers in June 2021. On the Bulgarian Black Sea coast, total traffic for the Twin Star airports of Burgas (BOJ) and Varna (VAR) rose to 158,306 passengers. On the Turkish Riviera, Antalya Airport (AYT) saw traffic grow to about 1.7 million passengers. The passenger volume at St. Petersburg’s Pulkovo Airport (LED) in Russia advanced to about 1.9 million. In China, Xi’an Airport (XIY) registered a traffic gain of 31.8 percent year-on-year to around 3.5 million passengers. In summary, both AYT and the Greek airports received almost as many passengers as our FRA home-base airport in June 2021, while twice as many passengers traveled via XIY. This demonstrates the dynamic performance of Fraport’s international airport portfolio. 

Lufthansa passengers will be offered a third gender option during the booking process.Lufthansa is the latest major air carrier to announce such ‘change,’ joining Air Canada and Japan Airlines.Lufthansa spokesman said that all internal and crew communication would be made “gender equitable” too. Airline passengers boarding a Lufthansa flight in the near future will no longer hear “Meine Damen und Herren” or “ladies and gentlemen,” a spokesman for the airline announced today. Lufthansa will scrap the traditional “ladies and gentlemen” greeting to passengers in favor of a gender-neutral alternative such as ‘dear guests,’ or ‘good morning/evening.’ Lufthansa is the latest major air carrier to announce such ‘change,’ joining Air Canada and Japan Airlines. Additionally, Lufthansa passengers will be offered a third gender option during the booking process, alongside “male” and “female.” The change will be rolled out gradually on Lufthansa flights, as well as flights by Swiss, Austrian, Brussels and Eurowings, which are subsidiaries of Lufthansa. Lfthansa Group said that the change is a response to a “discussion that is rightly being held in society” over gender, and came from a desire “to value all guests on board.” Though announced today, the change has been in the works for nearly a month. A Lufthansa spokesman said in June that all internal and crew communication would be made “gender equitable” too. Air Canada was the first airline to drop traditional politeness for modern sensitivities when it replaced “ladies and gentlemen” with “everyone” back in 2019. Like Lufthansa, it also introduced a third gender option on its booking site. Japan Airlines followed in 2020, but only applied the change to its English-language announcements. Not only is Japanese society less receptive to Western-style wokeness (same-sex marriage, for example, is not legal there), the most commonly used Japanese-language greeting is already gender-neutral.

Bangkok – Samui (roundtrip) 2 flights per day Sealed routes flights between Bangkok and Samui, that will accommodate international transit passengers (3 flights per day) Samui – Phuket (roundtrip) 4 flights per week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday), these flights will be available from 16 July 2021 onwards  Last week it was reported that Bangkok, the Bangkok, the City of Angels is under another COVID-19 surge. Today Bangkok Airways reacted and canceled the following domestic flights: 1. Bangkok – Chiang Mai (roundtrip)  2. Bangkok – Phuket (roundtrip) 3. Bangkok – Sukhothai (roundtrip) 4. Bangkok – Lampang (roundtrip) 5. Bangkok – Trat (roundtrip)   Samui – Singapore (roundtrip) 3 flights per week (Monday, Thursday, and Sunday), these flights will be available from 1 August 2021 onwards. Bangkok Airways Public Company Limited is a regional airline based in Bangkok, Thailand. It operates scheduled services to destinations in Thailand, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Singapore, and Vietnam. Its main base is Suvarnabhumi Airport. Passengers who are scheduled to travel before 31 July 2021 can have fees waived for rebooking or alternatively may request a refund in the form of a travel voucher to be used for future ticketing. Passengers can make any necessary changes up to 24 hours prior to their flight. More information can be seen at www.bangkokair.com/travel-voucher (terms and conditions apply).  Passengers who wish to amend their travels with no new specified travel date (open ticket) can submit their request via https://forms.office.com/r/WjcEEfQX2L within 24 hours prior to the proposed departure date. The airline will use information provided via such form in order to further accommodate passengers.    Passengers can contact the airline via the following channels;  Passengers who booked their tickets through travel agencies are advised to directly contact their agents for further arrangements.  Moreover, the airline encourages passengers to check announcements, orders, and travel procedures, for each destination prior to travel from the related authorities such as:  The Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA)    http://www.moicovid.com/ข้อมูลสำคัญ-จังหวัด/  Airports of Thailand www.airportthai.co.th/en/ Department of Airports www.facebook.com/DepartmentOfAirports/ 

European countries that have supported their aviation sectors throughout the pandemic are seeing the fastest growth as they emerge from the pandemic.Passenger traffic from Heathrow to the US is down by around 80%, whereas in the EU, which has reopened unilaterally with the US has seen traffic recover to only around 40% down.Getting Britain trading again with the rest of the world is critical to the Government’s plans for a Global Britain post-Brexit. Heathrow passenger numbers are still nearly 90% down on pre-pandemic 2019 passenger numbers, and much lower than EU rivals.  European countries that have supported their aviation sectors throughout the pandemic are seeing the fastest growth as they emerge from the pandemic. Both Schiphol and Frankfurt have surpassed their 2019 cargo volumes, growing by 14% and 9% respectively compared to 2019, whereas cargo tonnage at Heathrow, the UK’s biggest port is still down 16%. Almost all air cargo is carried in the hold of passenger planes, and UK travel restrictions are limiting trade compared to our EU rivals.  The closure of Britain’s transatlantic links is costing the UK economy at least £23 million a day. Passenger traffic from Heathrow to the US is down by around 80%, whereas in the EU, which has reopened unilaterally with the US has seen traffic recover to only around 40% down. Britain’s long held competitive advantage on transatlantic trade is at risk if borders remain closed.  Getting Britain trading again with the rest of the world is critical to the Government’s plans for a Global Britain post-Brexit. Heathrow alone has the potential to facilitate a £204 billion trade bonanza benefitting British businesses in every corner of the country, creating opportunities for the entire aviation sector and strengthening the UK’s trade network – but only if Ministers move to reopen trade as soon as possible. The announcement that double-vaccinated UK residents will no longer be required to quarantine when returning from amber list countries from the 19th July is a great step forward. However to kickstart Britain’s economic recovery, the Government must reopen travel to fully vaccinated people from more countries, particularly our key trading partners like the US. British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Heathrow are working together to demonstrate that 100% vaccination status can be carried out at check in, and there is no reason why Government should not approve this for passengers from the US and EU from the 31st of July. Heathrow CEO, John Holland-Kaye said: “While it’s fantastic news that some double-vaccinated passengers will no longer need to quarantine from amber countries, Ministers need to extend this policy to US and EU nationals if they want to kickstart the economic country. These changes will be critical for exporters who are losing out to EU rivals and families who have been separated from loved ones. We have all the tools to safely restart international travel, and now is the time for Global Britain to take off!”

Wizz Air has been making money at the cost of transport workers for a long time.Wizz Air workers face harsh working conditions, poor remuneration, and unfair, sometimes even unlawful, practices from management side.Rewarding József Váradi with a £100,000,000 bonus for running the airline this way is inappropriate and unacceptable. The European Transport Workers’ Federation condemns the decision to pay out a £100 million bonus to Wizz Air’s CEO József Váradi as a reward for the rapid growth of the carrier. Wizz Air is a company with an infamous history of anti-social practices – unlawful dismissals, disregard of the right to organize, union busting, and social dumping, to name a few. It is no secret that Wizz Air workers face harsh working conditions, poor remuneration, and unfair, sometimes even unlawful, practices from management side. Wizz Air has been making money at the cost of transport workers for a long time. Rewarding József Váradi with a £100,000,000 bonus for running the airline this way is inappropriate and unacceptable, even more so in the midst of a pandemic that has left many aviation workers exposed to job insecurity, health and safety risks including mental health risks, excessive workload, stress, and fatigue. Rewarding the CEO on the basis of expansionism of a company, regardless of its profit, environmental footprint, the state of working conditions, respect to social and labor rights and workers’ wellbeing is utterly disrespectful not only to the workers but also to their families and society at large. The ETF calls on shareholders to rescind this bonus, and base any future bonuses for airline’s top executives on building a sustainable company with decent working conditions, decent remuneration, well-functioning social dialogue, and well-being of employees rather than solely on growth and profit based on workforce exploitation.

The “odd” woman “started getting more and more agitated and very loud.”“Potential security concern” required the plane’s crew to take action.Despite the extreme measures used to restrain her, the woman reportedly yelled obscenities throughout the duration of the flight.  American Airlines flight from Dallas, Texas to Charlotte, North Carolina quickly spiraled into the surreal when a female passenger started muttering to the male passenger sitting next to her that she did not want the aircraft to “fly up anymore.”  According to one of the passengers on the flight, the “odd” woman “started getting more and more agitated and very loud, and the man sitting next to her, along with the flight attendants, kindly tried to console her and calm her, but nothing worked.”  The emotionally disturbed woman, described as being in her 30s with green hair, reportedly bolted out of her seat and tried to rip open the plane’s door. She was quickly tackled by flight attendants, who restrained her limbs with duct tact and zip ties, according to the onboard eyewitness.  Passengers sitting in rows in front of and behind the unwell woman were then asked to move out of the way so that flight attendants could duct-tape the misbehaving customer to her seat.  According to one passenger, the aircraft’s pilot got on the intercom and urged people to stay in their seats as personnel dealt with a “bad situation on the plane,” without elaborating further.  American Airlines later confirmed the incredible incident and defended its Hollywood-esque security measures, explaining that a “potential security concern” required the plane’s crew to take action. The air carrier also disclosed that the woman “physically assaulted and bit” one of the flight attendants. 

In the Seychelles, diversification and vaccination are paying dividends to tourism and the economy.The country embarked on an ambitious vaccination program of its citizens from January 2021.This sent the nation into the limelight as the world’s most-vaccinated country, underpinning its strategy to relaunch its primary economic activity. The impact of the pandemic had been immediate and catastrophic for the tourism-dependent economy of the island nation which saw visitor arrivals plummet to a low of 22 visitors in April of last year compared a bumper 37,103 in April 2019, traditionally the second highest month of the year for tourist arrivals. Foreign exchange inflows (receipts/supply of foreign exchange converted into rupees, the majority of which is tourism earnings) of an average of US$3 million a day pre-pandemic fell to US$1.25 million per day in April 2020, plunging to a low of US$0.43 million in mid-April 2020, the Central Bank of Seychelles has revealed. For the next 11 months, the period of May 2020 to March 2021, the average was US$1.72 million per day. The ambitious vaccination program of its citizens the tourism-dependent country embarked on from January 2021, catapulting it to the world’s attention as the world’s most-vaccinated country, underpins Seychelles’ strategy to relaunch its primary economic activity and is already paying dividends. While a far cry still from the 38,910 visitors of December 2019, the bumper 384,204 arrivals of that year and tourism earnings which in 2019 accounted for 76 percent of total inflows, figures from the Central Bank of Seychelles show that recovery, although fragile, is well under way. Tourism earnings, reported by banks covering foreign exchange converted into domestic currency by tourism-related businesses, dropped to US$1.1 million in June 2020. It stands this year in June at US$23 million or 59 percent of the US$38.9 million recorded in the same month in 2019. As of March 25 to July 2, 2021, the foreign exchange inflows daily average is US$2.44 million. Redefining its customer landscape as its traditional markets got hit by succeeding waves of the pandemic and barriers such as lockdown measures, quarantine requirements and restrictions to travel, the country’s tourism and transport authorities and private sector operators have been looking to other source markets, opening up to new airlines and charters, and welcoming from March 25 onwards some 500 visitors on average per day.

Half of the current private aviation users said they had started or re-started private flying due to COVID-19.54% users said they use private aviation for personal/vacation travel only.New users are more likely to be using private aviation strictly for personal/vacation travel (64%). A just-released survey shows the demand surge for private aviation will continue for the foreseeable future. Some 69% of current private aviation users expect to fly more post-COVID than before the pandemic, with 28% saying they expect to fly privately at similar levels. Only 3% said they would be making fewer private flights in a post-COVID world. Expected Use of Private Aviation Post-COVIDUse Private Aviation more post-COVID than prior to COVID69%Use Private Aviation same as prior to COVID28%Use Private Aviation less post-COVID than prior to COVID3% Half of the current private aviation users said they had started or re-started private flying due to COVID-19, and 100% of these new private flyers say they plan to continue after the pandemic. More than half (53%) said they would fly privately regularly even after the pandemic, a 29% increase from 41% who said they would continue private flights regularly in a January survey. The survey also revealed a strong pipeline of potential new private jet customers. Of the over 225 respondents, 90% are currently privately flyers, and 9% said they are now considering private aviation. In terms of types of travel, 54% said they use private aviation for personal/vacation travel only, 43% use it for a combination of personal/vacation flights and business needs, and 3% said they use private flights exclusively for business.

Qatar is gearing up to host the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.Upcoming properties are part of Qatar’s strategy to diversify its offering and broaden its appeal to visitors.Qatar expands its global tourism offer in line with Qatar National Vision 2030. Qatar is adding 105 new hotels and hotel apartments to its already extensive portfolio of properties, as the country gears up to host the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™. The new properties will broaden Qatar’s appeal to a range of travelers and enhance the visitor experience, as Qatar Tourism continues its mission to turn the country into a world-leading destination. One exciting recent hotel opening is the Banyan Tree Doha, a five-star luxury property, elegantly designed by renowned interior designer Jacques Garcia. Hotel openings on this year’s horizon include, for example, the Pullman Doha West Bay, a five-star Accor property; the JW Marriott West Bay, with an eye-catching and towering exterior; and the Steigenberger Hotel, famed for its exclusive hospitality. Each of these new hotels contributes a unique amenity or experience to Qatar’s 184-property-strong portfolio, which is made up of nearly 32,000 room keys. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive and Chairman of Qatar Tourism, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “We are continuing to expand our tourism offer to ensure guests enjoy the best of Qatari hospitality while being able to choose a hotel, resort or serviced apartment that accommodates to their budget and needs. These upcoming properties are part of our strategy to diversify our offering and broaden our appeal to visitors. We are pleased to expand our global tourism offer in line with Qatar National Vision 2030 and provide travelers with more options to experience the very best of Qatar.” The recently opened five-star Banyan Tree Doha offers an oasis of luxury in the heart of the city. For a blend of work and play, the Pullman Doha West Bay with 375 rooms and suites and 93 apartments is due to open later this year. Those looking to soak up views of Doha’s skyline will soon be able to enjoy a stay at the 53-storey JW Marriott West Bay.  Travelers looking for accommodation close to the airport will be able to book the futuristic 204-room Steigenberger Hotel Doha.

Orlando in particular is a brand-new gateway for St. Martin.This new flight schedule is anticipated to open up opportunities in the feeder markets of Atlanta, Denver, Philadelphia, Newark, and Baltimore in the US.Florida is a key region for Frontier Airlines showing high demand to the Caribbean. The first Vice President of the French St. Martin Territorial Council and President of St. Martin’s Tourist Office, Ms. Valérie Damaseau was present for the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Princess Juliana International Airport, alongside Ms. De Weever, Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic and Telecommunication of Sint Maarten. “We are delighted that Frontier Airlines has added two new services to our friendly island. The new launch will help us expand our presence in key regions in Florida, in both Miami and Orlando. We will continue to work diligently in order to maintain St. Martin as one of the most sought-after Caribbean destinations to visit,” stated Ms. Aida Weinum, Director of the St. Martin Tourist Office. “With high demand travel to the Caribbean, we thank and welcome visitors, honeymooners, and any beach lovers to fly Frontier Airlines as they visit the tropical paradise of St. Martin.” Frontier Airlines is now a valued partner for St. Martin, allowing the destination to expand its outreach within the Florida area. It is hoped that the power of both Miami and Orlando to attract international visitors from all across the globe will result in St. Martin being part of a two-center vacation for visitors seeking to combine Florida with a Euro-Caribbean experience. The new Miami and Orlando flights are now operating weekly on Saturdays.

Medium-haul aircraft are used as freight-only aircraft on continental routes in Europe.Aircraft receive cargo doors to enable containers to be transported on the main deck as well.Freighter aircraft will be operated by Lufthansa CityLine. Lufthansa Cargo is investing in the expansion of its cargo capacities. From the beginning of 2022, the company will offer its customers additional capacity in Europe by permanently converting Airbus 321 passenger aircraft into freighters. For this purpose, the twin-engine medium-haul aircraft will receive large cargo doors to enable the transport of containers on the main deck as well. Initially, the conversion of two Airbus aircraft is planned. These aircraft will be operated by Lufthansa CityLine on behalf of Lufthansa Cargo. They will be stationed in Frankfurt. The growth for cross-border eCommerce shipments is forecast at around 20% per year for the next five years. Consumers expect ever shorter delivery times for their ordered goods. This is also increasing the demand for air freight connections within Europe. “Lufthansa Cargo wants to offer customers in the eCommerce segment fast intra-European connections. With the converted A321s, we are meeting our customers’ growing demand for same-day solutions and further strengthening our dense network of global connections as well as our product offering,” said Dorothea von Boxberg, CEO of Lufthansa Cargo. “The selected aircraft type can transport 28t per flight, significantly larger cargo volumes than in the short-haul bellies of passenger aircraft. In addition to forwarders, integrators and postal operators, eCommerce providers will be customers for this offering,” von Boxberg added. “With more than 60 years of experience in European air transport, Lufthansa CityLine stands for reliable and efficient operations as an important partner in the Lufthansa Group. Flexibility in operations and speed in identifying and implementing new opportunities are the foundation of our business. We want to use these qualities to serve Lufthansa Cargo and its customers,” says Steffen Harbarth, Managing Director of Lufthansa CityLine. The Airbus A321s (A321P2F) converted to freighters offer a payload of 28 tons with a range of 3,500 kilometers. The conversion allows the use of standardized cargo pallets on the main deck as well. The twin-engine Airbus A321 is one of the most versatile aircraft in its class and enables very efficient continental operations.

Global demand, measured in cargo ton-kilometers (CTKs), was up 9.4% compared to May 2019.North American carriers contributed 4.6 percentage points to the 9.4% growth rate in May.Capacity remains constrained at 9.7% below pre-COVID-19 levels due to the ongoing grounding of passenger aircraft. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released May 2021 data for global air cargo markets showing that demand continued its strong growth trend.  As comparisons between 2021 and 2020 monthly results are distorted by the extraordinary impact of COVID-19, unless otherwise noted, all comparisons to follow are to May 2019 which followed a normal demand pattern. Global demand, measured in cargo ton-kilometers (CTKs), was up 9.4% compared to May 2019. Seasonally adjusted demand rose by 0.4% month-on-month in May, the 13th consecutive month of improvement.    The pace of growth slowed slightly in May compared to April which saw demand increase 11.3% against pre-COVID-19 levels (April 2019). Notwithstanding, air cargo outperformed global goods trade for the fifth consecutive month. North American carriers contributed 4.6 percentage points to the 9.4% growth rate in May. Airlines in all other regions except for Latin America also supported the growth.   Capacity remains constrained at 9.7% below pre-COVID-19 levels (May 2019) due to the ongoing grounding of passenger aircraft. Seasonally adjusted capacity rose 0.8% month-on-month in May, the fourth consecutive month of improvement indicating that the capacity crunch is slowly unwinding.  Underlying economic conditions and favourable supply chain dynamics remain supportive for air cargo: Global trade rose 0.5% in April.The Purchasing Managers Indices (PMIs) – leading indicators of air cargo demand – show that business confidence, manufacturing output and new export orders are growing at a rapid pace in most economies.The cost-competitiveness of air cargo relative to that of container shipping has improved.  Pre-crisis, the average price of air cargo was 12 times more expensive than sea shipping. In May 2021 it was six time more expensive.  “Propelled by strong economic growth in trade and manufacturing, demand for air cargo is 9.4% above pre-crisis levels. As economies unlock, we can expect a shift in consumption from goods to services. This could slow growth for cargo in general, but improved competitiveness compared to sea shipping should continue to make air cargo a bright spot for airlines while passenger demand struggles with continued border closures and travel restrictions,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.   

This was announced at a press conference that just concluded at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport.The state confirmed that Hawaii’s efforts are not being done in coordination with federal authority guidelines.Travelers vaccinated in the US or its territories may participate in the program starting on the 15th day after second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or a single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Travelers vaccinated in the U.S. or U.S. Territories may participate in the exception program starting on the 15th day after their second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine — or starting the 15th day after they’ve received a single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. When asked by eTurboNews, it was made clear that vaccination passes are not accepted by foreign authorities. Hawaii-bound travelers will need to upload one of three vaccination documents to a Safe Travels Hawaii account they set up, prior to traveling to the islands. One of the following documents must be uploaded: A CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card.VAMS (Vaccination Administration Management System) printout.DOD DD Form 2766C. The Safe Travels digital platform will ask for an online legal attestations on its website to confirm the uploaded documentation is true and accurate.

Emirates will operate two weekly flights to Mauritius starting 15 July.The airline will deploy its Airbus A380 aircraft to the popular Indian Ocean destination from 1 August.Fully vaccinated travelers can enjoy a relaxing and safe getaway. Emirates has announced it will restart passenger services to Mauritius this summer with two weekly flights from 15 July, as the island-nation gradually re-opens its borders to international tourists. To serve market demand, the airline has also announced it will deploy its iconic Emirates A380 aircraft to Mauritius starting 1 August. Fully vaccinated travelers can enjoy a relaxing and safe getaway in a list of pre-approved COVID-19 safe resorts across the island. Emirates’ flights to Mauritius will operate on Thursdays and Saturdays. Starting from 15 July, the route will be served utilizing a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, and from 1 August, utilizing the Emirates A380 aircraft. Emirates flight EK 701 will depart Dubai 2:35hrs and arrive in Mauritius at 9:10hrs local time. The return flight will operate on Fridays and Sundays. Emirates flight EK 704 will depart Mauritius at 23:10hrs and arrive in Dubai at 5:45hrs local time, the following day. The Emirates A380 experience remains a favorite amongst travelers for its spacious and comfortable cabins and the airline will continue to expand its deployment in line with the gradual return in demand. Emirates currently operates the A380 to New York JFK, Los Angeles, Washington D.C, Toronto, Paris, Munich, Vienna, Frankfurt, Moscow, Amman, Cairo, and Guangzhou. From white sandy beaches, crystal clear water, and luscious landscapes – Mauritius remains one the most popular holiday destinations, attracting travelers across the Americas, Europe, and the Middle East. Emirates passengers can also enjoy other Indian Ocean destinations, as the airline offers 28 weekly flights to Maldives and seven weekly flights to Seychelles. From 15 July to 30 September 2021, Mauritius will open its borders to vaccinated passengers and Mauritian nationals. Fully vaccinated travelers can enjoy a “hotel holiday” and choose from an extensive list of approved hotels across the island. From 1 October, Mauritius will start to welcome fully vaccinated travelers who can explore the island freely with no restrictions.

As airlines rebuild, the industry is eager to build a more inclusive restart.Action Group will be the first of its kind aimed at tackling issues around the safe and secure transport of mobility aids.With aging populations in countries around the world, travelers with disabilities will be a growing customer segment for airlines. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced the launch of a global Mobility Aids Action Group to examine and improve the transport journey of mobility aids, including wheelchairs, with the objective of improving the handling of this vital equipment for travelers with disabilities. The Action Group will be the first of its kind aimed at tackling issues around the safe and secure transport of mobility aids—an issue of huge importance to a growing number of travelers. It will also provide advice and recommendations to airlines and other stakeholders concerning the establishment of policy, process and standards related to the handling and transport of mobility aids. “Every year, thousands of wheelchairs are transported safely by air. However, damage or loss is still occurring. And when it does, it is devastating to the passenger as these devices are more than equipment—they are extensions of their body and essential to their independence. We acknowledge that we are not where we want to be on this as an industry. This is why we want to do something about it on a global level, not through setting up a talking shop, but by bringing the key groups together to take practical action,” said Willie Walsh, Director General of IATA. Uniquely, the Mobility Aids Action Group will involve the full range of stakeholders impacted by this issue, including accessibility organizations (representing travelers with disabilities), airlines, ground service providers, airports and mobility aids manufacturers. It will be the first time a mobility aids manufacturer will be invited to participate in an IATA task force. “This is the beginning of a new day where the accessibility community has a seat at the table. The challenge of transporting assistive devices faces airlines across the globe and having IATA create this action group shows how committed the industry is to solve one of the largest accessibility topics,” said Eric Lipp, Founder and Executive Director of the Open Doors Organization (ODO).

The new IT solution enables companies to integrate sustainable offers for customers into their product portfolio.The platform supports achieving CO2 reduction targets and accelerating the transition to sustainable mobility.Companies can simply integrate the Squake interface into their own online portals. Customers are increasingly demanding sustainable travel and mobility offers. At the same time, companies are also looking for ways to achieve their sustainability goals. The Lufthansa Innovation Hub now addresses this growing demand with a new solution. With Squake, the Lufthansa Group‘s central digitalization unit launches a CO2 compensation platform aimed at companies from the entire travel, mobility, and transport industry. By using an application programming interface (API) companies can now easily calculate and offset the CO2 emissions of the services they offer. The new solution permits them to develop individual sustainable products that are optimally tailored to the needs of their customers. “The travel and mobility market is urgently looking for effective solutions to increase sustainability. Our answer to this is the climate tech startup Squake, which helps companies accelerate their development of sustainable products,” says Christine Wang, Managing Director Lufthansa Innovation Hub. “With Squake, we are able to make our offsetting expertise accessible beyond aviation. It is only possible to achieve sustainability in the long term if we work together, which is why we rely on cooperation within the market and between the participating companies. Our vision for Squake is that it will provide a ‘green-tech backbone’ for travel and mobility.” Here’s how Squake works When customers of an online travel agency (OTA) book a trip using different modes of transport, e.g. rental car, flight, ferry, bus, the platform automatically calculates the CO2 emissions of the entire trip. Customers can then offset the calculated emissions during the booking process. Companies can simply integrate the Squake interface into their own online portals. This means they can immediately offer “green rates” or make their entire offering CO2-neutral. The first European startups from the travel management, shared mobility, and logistics sectors are already successfully using the service. “Profitability and sustainability have to work together,” says Dan Kreibich, project lead of Squake. “We help companies come up with sustainable offerings in the shortest possible time that are precisely tailored to their target groups. We’re convinced that sustainable products contribute to sales growth.”

A decree banning flights by Russian air carriers to Egypt’s resorts destinations was enacted in 2015.In its most recent version, the decree allowed only regular flights to Cairo and official flights to Egypt.On April 23 2021, Russian and Egyptian presidents agreed to resume flights between Russian cities and Egypt’s Red Sea resorts. A 6-year-old edict banning air service by Russian airlines to Egyptian Red Sea resort destinations has been annulled on Thursday by Russian President Vladimir Putin. In its most recent version, now annulled by Putin, the decree allowed only regular flights to Cairo and official flights to Egypt. It also contained a recommendation to tour operators and travel agents to refrain from selling tourist products providing for air travel to Egypt, except for Cairo. These restrictions are null and void. Air traffic between Russia and Egypt was halted in November 2015 after a Russian passenger jet had crashed over the Sinai Peninsula killing 224 people. The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) qualified the incident as an act of terrorism. In January 2018, Putin signed a decree allowing to resume scheduled passenger flights to Cairo, but charter flights to Egyptian resorts remained restricted. On April 23 2021, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt agreed to resume flights between Russian cities and Egypt’s Red Sea resorts.

Safety and environmental sustainability as its top priority.It is the first and largest turbulence data contributor in the Middle East.Sharing data on turbulence could help the airline industry cut carbon emissions. Qatar Airways and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that Qatar Airways will become the first airline in the Middle East to join the IATA Turbulence Aware platform.  IATA’s Turbulence Aware helps airlines mitigate the impact of turbulence, a leading cause of passenger and crew injuries and higher fuel costs each year, by pooling and sharing anonymized turbulence data from multiple participating airlines and thousands of daily flights. The real-time, accurate information enables pilots and dispatchers to choose optimal flight paths, avoiding turbulence and flying at optimum levels to maximize fuel efficiency and thereby reduce CO2 emissions. Qatar Airways was the first Middle Eastern airline to participate in the Turbulence Aware initiative when it was launched as a pilot project in December 2018. Turbulence Aware has since expanded into a fully operational platform with over 1,500 reporting aircraft sharing real-time turbulence data. With today’s announcement Qatar Airways has equipped 120 aircraft with the Turbulence Aware platform, with plans to expand to the rest of its fleet.  Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “With safety and environmental sustainability as our top priority, we show our commitment towards responsible flying. We continue to innovate as one of the world’s leading airlines by adopting this new solution that combines technology and big data for more efficient flight planning not only to ensure a smooth journey, but also to reduce fuel burn, in turn lowering our carbon emissions. To make flying safer and more sustainable, the airline industry must leverage such digital innovations, and work together to share turbulence data for more precise forecasting.” 

36% of survey respondents have already moved their focus to distance / e-learning.85% of survey respondents said that online learning including virtual classrooms will play an important role in the recovery.As aviation rebuilds, topics such as sustainability and digitalization will gain in importance. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released research on the training requirements for the aviation workforce as the industry starts to recover from the COVID-19 crisis. The Aviation Workforce Training essential for post covid operation is seen as essential According to a global survey of some 800 human resources (HR) leaders in the aviation industry responsible for learning and development, right-skilling existing workers and ensuring that new hires from outside aviation can quickly acquire the necessary skills will be key to successfully building the post-pandemic workforce. To achieve this, training programs will need to be adapted, with around half the HR respondents stating that their top priority is to assess available workforce skills and map these against their organization’s competency requirements. This will form the basis for the required training curriculums. The pandemic had already forced many airlines and other companies in the value chain, like ground service providers, to assess what overall skills their employees possessed to adapt to new operational requirements. A case in point was the need to load cargo in cabins of passenger aircraft repurposed to carry cargo only.  As demand for air travel recovers, companies will be bringing back employees but will also be hiring from outside the industry. Results from the survey show that the topics of safety, operations, security, and economic disciplines have been identified as the main areas where training will be required to master the current situation. Safety was highlighted as particularly critical for airlines, ground service providers and airports. “IATA has been providing training for aviation professionals for nearly 50 years. The technical nature of our industry, coupled with stringent requirements defined by the regulators, drive the necessity for standardized training across the sector. Given the fact that the COVID-19 crisis forced many companies to either completely halt or drastically scale down training, we will continue to adapt our portfolio to ensure that we can contribute to the industry’s restart,” said Frédéric Leger, Interim Senior Vice President, Commercial Products and Services at IATA & Cargo Network Services (CNS) President.  IATA started a number of initiatives to assist in aviation workforce training.

Finnair opens nonstop flight route from Arlanda, Stockholm to Bangkok and Phuket in Thailand.Finnair opens nonstop flight route from Arlanda, Stockholm to Miami in the United States.All three routes will be operated with an Airbus A350 aircraft. Finnair opens non-stop flight routes from Arlanda, Stockholm in Sweden to Bangkok and Phuket in Thailand and Miami in the United States for the winter season 2021/2022. All three routes will be operated with an Airbus A350 aircraft offering a smooth and modern travel experience. “We are excited to meet the travel needs of our Swedish customers with a nonstop service from Arlanda to Thailand and Miami, which are among the top winter holiday destinations for Swedes”, says Ole Orvér,  Chief Commercial Officer, Finnair. “The new flights will strengthen our offering in the Swedish market.” As of October 22, Finnair flies from Arlanda to Bangkok five times a week on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays. From November 28, the weekly frequencies will be increased to seven and flights are operated from Monday through Sunday until April 22, 2022. Flights from Arlanda to Phuket will be operated on Sundays as of October 24. An additional frequency will be added Thursday as of November 4th and for Tuesdays as of November 30. Flights to Phuket will be operated until April 21, 2022. Flights from Arlanda to Miami will start with two weekly frequencies, on Wednesdays and Saturdays as of October 23. From November 29, flights will be operated also on Monday and Friday until April 22, 2022.  Finnair flies to Bangkok, Phuket and Miami also from its home base Helsinki Airport.

China’s aviation industry reported 245 million passenger trips in the January-June period.The air-cargo volume rose 24.6 percent year on year to 3.743 million tons during the period.The aviation sector’s investment in fixed assets reached 43.5 billion yuan (about $6.72 billion) in the first half of the year. According to the latest data released today by Civil Aviation Administration of China, Chinese civil aviation sector gradually recovered from the impact of COVID-19 in the first half of 2021. The country’s aviation regulator’s data shows that China’s aviation industry reported 245 million passenger trips in the January-June period, up 66.4 percent year on year, equivalent to 76.2 percent of the volume during the same period of 2019. The transportation volume recovered quarter by quarter, and in the second quarter, passenger trips on domestic flights returned to the pre-epidemic level. The air-cargo volume rose 24.6 percent year on year to 3.743 million tons during the period, up 6.4 percent compared with the same period of 2019. The aviation sector’s investment in fixed assets reached 43.5 billion yuan (about $6.72 billion) in the first half of the year, up 8.5 percent year on year, said the administration. More on China’s airline industry click here

Bangkok – Samui (roundtrip) 2 flights per day Sealed routes flights between Bangkok and Samui, that will accommodate international transit passengers (3 flights per day) Samui – Phuket (roundtrip) 4 flights per week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday), these flights will be available from 16 July 2021 onwards  Last week it was reported that Bangkok, the Bangkok, the City of Angels is under another COVID-19 surge. Today Bangkok Airways reacted and canceled the following domestic flights: 1. Bangkok – Chiang Mai (roundtrip)  2. Bangkok – Phuket (roundtrip) 3. Bangkok – Sukhothai (roundtrip) 4. Bangkok – Lampang (roundtrip) 5. Bangkok – Trat (roundtrip)   Samui – Singapore (roundtrip) 3 flights per week (Monday, Thursday, and Sunday), these flights will be available from 1 August 2021 onwards. Bangkok Airways Public Company Limited is a regional airline based in Bangkok, Thailand. It operates scheduled services to destinations in Thailand, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Singapore, and Vietnam. Its main base is Suvarnabhumi Airport. Passengers who are scheduled to travel before 31 July 2021 can have fees waived for rebooking or alternatively may request a refund in the form of a travel voucher to be used for future ticketing. Passengers can make any necessary changes up to 24 hours prior to their flight. More information can be seen at www.bangkokair.com/travel-voucher (terms and conditions apply).  Passengers who wish to amend their travels with no new specified travel date (open ticket) can submit their request via https://forms.office.com/r/WjcEEfQX2L within 24 hours prior to the proposed departure date. The airline will use information provided via such form in order to further accommodate passengers.    Passengers can contact the airline via the following channels;  Passengers who booked their tickets through travel agencies are advised to directly contact their agents for further arrangements.  Moreover, the airline encourages passengers to check announcements, orders, and travel procedures, for each destination prior to travel from the related authorities such as:  The Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA)    http://www.moicovid.com/ข้อมูลสำคัญ-จังหวัด/  Airports of Thailand www.airportthai.co.th/en/ Department of Airports www.facebook.com/DepartmentOfAirports/ 

A decree banning flights by Russian air carriers to Egypt’s resorts destinations was enacted in 2015.In its most recent version, the decree allowed only regular flights to Cairo and official flights to Egypt.On April 23 2021, Russian and Egyptian presidents agreed to resume flights between Russian cities and Egypt’s Red Sea resorts. A 6-year-old edict banning air service by Russian airlines to Egyptian Red Sea resort destinations has been annulled on Thursday by Russian President Vladimir Putin. In its most recent version, now annulled by Putin, the decree allowed only regular flights to Cairo and official flights to Egypt. It also contained a recommendation to tour operators and travel agents to refrain from selling tourist products providing for air travel to Egypt, except for Cairo. These restrictions are null and void. Air traffic between Russia and Egypt was halted in November 2015 after a Russian passenger jet had crashed over the Sinai Peninsula killing 224 people. The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) qualified the incident as an act of terrorism. In January 2018, Putin signed a decree allowing to resume scheduled passenger flights to Cairo, but charter flights to Egyptian resorts remained restricted. On April 23 2021, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt agreed to resume flights between Russian cities and Egypt’s Red Sea resorts.

As airlines rebuild, the industry is eager to build a more inclusive restart.Action Group will be the first of its kind aimed at tackling issues around the safe and secure transport of mobility aids.With aging populations in countries around the world, travelers with disabilities will be a growing customer segment for airlines. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced the launch of a global Mobility Aids Action Group to examine and improve the transport journey of mobility aids, including wheelchairs, with the objective of improving the handling of this vital equipment for travelers with disabilities. The Action Group will be the first of its kind aimed at tackling issues around the safe and secure transport of mobility aids—an issue of huge importance to a growing number of travelers. It will also provide advice and recommendations to airlines and other stakeholders concerning the establishment of policy, process and standards related to the handling and transport of mobility aids. “Every year, thousands of wheelchairs are transported safely by air. However, damage or loss is still occurring. And when it does, it is devastating to the passenger as these devices are more than equipment—they are extensions of their body and essential to their independence. We acknowledge that we are not where we want to be on this as an industry. This is why we want to do something about it on a global level, not through setting up a talking shop, but by bringing the key groups together to take practical action,” said Willie Walsh, Director General of IATA. Uniquely, the Mobility Aids Action Group will involve the full range of stakeholders impacted by this issue, including accessibility organizations (representing travelers with disabilities), airlines, ground service providers, airports and mobility aids manufacturers. It will be the first time a mobility aids manufacturer will be invited to participate in an IATA task force. “This is the beginning of a new day where the accessibility community has a seat at the table. The challenge of transporting assistive devices faces airlines across the globe and having IATA create this action group shows how committed the industry is to solve one of the largest accessibility topics,” said Eric Lipp, Founder and Executive Director of the Open Doors Organization (ODO).

The new IT solution enables companies to integrate sustainable offers for customers into their product portfolio.The platform supports achieving CO2 reduction targets and accelerating the transition to sustainable mobility.Companies can simply integrate the Squake interface into their own online portals. Customers are increasingly demanding sustainable travel and mobility offers. At the same time, companies are also looking for ways to achieve their sustainability goals. The Lufthansa Innovation Hub now addresses this growing demand with a new solution. With Squake, the Lufthansa Group‘s central digitalization unit launches a CO2 compensation platform aimed at companies from the entire travel, mobility, and transport industry. By using an application programming interface (API) companies can now easily calculate and offset the CO2 emissions of the services they offer. The new solution permits them to develop individual sustainable products that are optimally tailored to the needs of their customers. “The travel and mobility market is urgently looking for effective solutions to increase sustainability. Our answer to this is the climate tech startup Squake, which helps companies accelerate their development of sustainable products,” says Christine Wang, Managing Director Lufthansa Innovation Hub. “With Squake, we are able to make our offsetting expertise accessible beyond aviation. It is only possible to achieve sustainability in the long term if we work together, which is why we rely on cooperation within the market and between the participating companies. Our vision for Squake is that it will provide a ‘green-tech backbone’ for travel and mobility.” Here’s how Squake works When customers of an online travel agency (OTA) book a trip using different modes of transport, e.g. rental car, flight, ferry, bus, the platform automatically calculates the CO2 emissions of the entire trip. Customers can then offset the calculated emissions during the booking process. Companies can simply integrate the Squake interface into their own online portals. This means they can immediately offer “green rates” or make their entire offering CO2-neutral. The first European startups from the travel management, shared mobility, and logistics sectors are already successfully using the service. “Profitability and sustainability have to work together,” says Dan Kreibich, project lead of Squake. “We help companies come up with sustainable offerings in the shortest possible time that are precisely tailored to their target groups. We’re convinced that sustainable products contribute to sales growth.” Broad portfolio of certified climate protection projects for CO2 compensation Companies can choose from a broad portfolio of high-quality climate protection projects to compensate the CO2 emissions of their travel and mobility offers. These projects are certified to the highest industry standards, such as the Gold Standard or the Plan Vivo Standard, and have undergone a corresponding auditing process. The portfolio includes energy or solar projects as well as innovative technologies that extract CO2 directly from the atmosphere (“direct air capture”) and the use of sustainable fuels. Project partners include renowned climate protection organizations such as myclimate as well as innovative technology partners such as Climeworks or GoodShipping. In the future, Squake would like to focus in particular on innovative technologies and continuously expand its services to its partners. Companies can opt for those projects that fit their own sustainability goals and corporate philosophy.

Emirates will operate two weekly flights to Mauritius starting 15 July.The airline will deploy its Airbus A380 aircraft to the popular Indian Ocean destination from 1 August.Fully vaccinated travelers can enjoy a relaxing and safe getaway. Emirates has announced it will restart passenger services to Mauritius this summer with two weekly flights from 15 July, as the island-nation gradually re-opens its borders to international tourists. To serve market demand, the airline has also announced it will deploy its iconic Emirates A380 aircraft to Mauritius starting 1 August. Fully vaccinated travelers can enjoy a relaxing and safe getaway in a list of pre-approved COVID-19 safe resorts across the island. Emirates’ flights to Mauritius will operate on Thursdays and Saturdays. Starting from 15 July, the route will be served utilizing a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, and from 1 August, utilizing the Emirates A380 aircraft. Emirates flight EK 701 will depart Dubai 2:35hrs and arrive in Mauritius at 9:10hrs local time. The return flight will operate on Fridays and Sundays. Emirates flight EK 704 will depart Mauritius at 23:10hrs and arrive in Dubai at 5:45hrs local time, the following day. The Emirates A380 experience remains a favorite amongst travelers for its spacious and comfortable cabins and the airline will continue to expand its deployment in line with the gradual return in demand. Emirates currently operates the A380 to New York JFK, Los Angeles, Washington D.C, Toronto, Paris, Munich, Vienna, Frankfurt, Moscow, Amman, Cairo, and Guangzhou. From white sandy beaches, crystal clear water, and luscious landscapes – Mauritius remains one the most popular holiday destinations, attracting travelers across the Americas, Europe, and the Middle East. Emirates passengers can also enjoy other Indian Ocean destinations, as the airline offers 28 weekly flights to Maldives and seven weekly flights to Seychelles. From 15 July to 30 September 2021, Mauritius will open its borders to vaccinated passengers and Mauritian nationals. Fully vaccinated travelers can enjoy a “hotel holiday” and choose from an extensive list of approved hotels across the island. From 1 October, Mauritius will start to welcome fully vaccinated travelers who can explore the island freely with no restrictions.

Global demand, measured in cargo ton-kilometers (CTKs), was up 9.4% compared to May 2019.North American carriers contributed 4.6 percentage points to the 9.4% growth rate in May.Capacity remains constrained at 9.7% below pre-COVID-19 levels due to the ongoing grounding of passenger aircraft. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released May 2021 data for global air cargo markets showing that demand continued its strong growth trend.  As comparisons between 2021 and 2020 monthly results are distorted by the extraordinary impact of COVID-19, unless otherwise noted, all comparisons to follow are to May 2019 which followed a normal demand pattern. Global demand, measured in cargo ton-kilometers (CTKs), was up 9.4% compared to May 2019. Seasonally adjusted demand rose by 0.4% month-on-month in May, the 13th consecutive month of improvement.    The pace of growth slowed slightly in May compared to April which saw demand increase 11.3% against pre-COVID-19 levels (April 2019). Notwithstanding, air cargo outperformed global goods trade for the fifth consecutive month. North American carriers contributed 4.6 percentage points to the 9.4% growth rate in May. Airlines in all other regions except for Latin America also supported the growth.   Capacity remains constrained at 9.7% below pre-COVID-19 levels (May 2019) due to the ongoing grounding of passenger aircraft. Seasonally adjusted capacity rose 0.8% month-on-month in May, the fourth consecutive month of improvement indicating that the capacity crunch is slowly unwinding.  Underlying economic conditions and favourable supply chain dynamics remain supportive for air cargo: Global trade rose 0.5% in April.The Purchasing Managers Indices (PMIs) – leading indicators of air cargo demand – show that business confidence, manufacturing output and new export orders are growing at a rapid pace in most economies.The cost-competitiveness of air cargo relative to that of container shipping has improved.  Pre-crisis, the average price of air cargo was 12 times more expensive than sea shipping. In May 2021 it was six time more expensive.  “Propelled by strong economic growth in trade and manufacturing, demand for air cargo is 9.4% above pre-crisis levels. As economies unlock, we can expect a shift in consumption from goods to services. This could slow growth for cargo in general, but improved competitiveness compared to sea shipping should continue to make air cargo a bright spot for airlines while passenger demand struggles with continued border closures and travel restrictions,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.   

This was announced at a press conference that just concluded at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport.The state confirmed that Hawaii’s efforts are not being done in coordination with federal authority guidelines.Travelers vaccinated in the US or its territories may participate in the program starting on the 15th day after second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or a single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Travelers vaccinated in the U.S. or U.S. Territories may participate in the exception program starting on the 15th day after their second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine — or starting the 15th day after they’ve received a single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. When asked by eTurboNews, it was made clear that vaccination passes are not accepted by foreign authorities. Hawaii-bound travelers will need to upload one of three vaccination documents to a Safe Travels Hawaii account they set up, prior to traveling to the islands. One of the following documents must be uploaded: A CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card.VAMS (Vaccination Administration Management System) printout.DOD DD Form 2766C. The Safe Travels digital platform will ask for an online legal attestations on its website to confirm the uploaded documentation is true and accurate. Travelers should bring a hard copy of their vaccination documentation to show screeners at the gate prior to boarding and/or upon arrival in Hawaii. Screeners will review and verify the vaccination documents, match photo IDs, name, and DOB, as well as confirm that the attestations are signed. Children under 5 years old are not required to test and will not be quarantined if traveling with an adult who has a pre-travel test exception or a vaccination exception. Spokesperson for the Hawaii Dept. of Transportation International Travelers Anyone arriving in the United States with valid testing from another country is not automatically accepted for travel to Hawaii. A test has to be administrated from an approved facility in the United States making it technically impossible to go on a through flight from a foreign country without stopping for a day or more to get the test and avoid quarantine. There are approved facilities in Japan making it the only international exception. #rebuildingtravel

Second corporate bond of 1 billion euros issued in 2021.Placement with two maturities of three and eight years complements Lufthansa Group’s maturity profile.The long-term funds raised will be used to further strengthen the Lufthansa Group’s liquidity. Deutsche Lufthansa AG has again successfully issued a bond with a total volume of 1 billion euros. The bond with a denomination of 100,000 euros was placed in two tranches with a term of three and eight years respectively and a volume of 500 million euros each: The tranche with a term until 2024 bears interest at 2.0 percent per year, the tranche maturing in 2029 3.5 percent. With the placement of the last corporate bond in February 2021, the Group already secured the refinancing of all financial liabilities due in 2021 and also repaid the KfW loan of 1 billion euros ahead of schedule. The long-term funds now raised will be used to further strengthen the Lufthansa Group‘s liquidity. “The repeated successful placement of a corporate bond again confirms our access to a variety of advantageous financing instruments. The two tranches over three and eight years fit perfectly into our maturity profile. In addition, we can obtain financing on the capital market at more favourable terms compared with the stabilization measures. We are continuing to work systematically on our restructuring measures in order to repay the government stabilization measures as quickly as possible,” said Remco Steenbergen, Chief Financial Officer of Deutsche Lufthansa AG. As of March 31, the Group had cash and cash equivalents of 10.6 billion euros (including uncalled funds from the stabilization packages in Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Belgium). At that time, Lufthansa had used around 2.5 billion euros of the 9 billion euros government stabilization packages. In addition to today’s bond issue, the Lufthansa Group is continuing to make preparations for a capital increase. The net proceeds would contribute in particular to the repayment of stabilization measures of the German Economic Stabilization Fund (ESF) and to the restoration of a sustainable and efficient long-term capital structure. The Executive and Supervisory Boards have not yet taken a decision on the size and timing of a possible capital increase. In addition, approval by the ESF for this has to be obtained.

Medium-haul aircraft are used as freight-only aircraft on continental routes in Europe.Aircraft receive cargo doors to enable containers to be transported on the main deck as well.Freighter aircraft will be operated by Lufthansa CityLine. Lufthansa Cargo is investing in the expansion of its cargo capacities. From the beginning of 2022, the company will offer its customers additional capacity in Europe by permanently converting Airbus 321 passenger aircraft into freighters. For this purpose, the twin-engine medium-haul aircraft will receive large cargo doors to enable the transport of containers on the main deck as well. Initially, the conversion of two Airbus aircraft is planned. These aircraft will be operated by Lufthansa CityLine on behalf of Lufthansa Cargo. They will be stationed in Frankfurt. The growth for cross-border eCommerce shipments is forecast at around 20% per year for the next five years. Consumers expect ever shorter delivery times for their ordered goods. This is also increasing the demand for air freight connections within Europe. “Lufthansa Cargo wants to offer customers in the eCommerce segment fast intra-European connections. With the converted A321s, we are meeting our customers’ growing demand for same-day solutions and further strengthening our dense network of global connections as well as our product offering,” said Dorothea von Boxberg, CEO of Lufthansa Cargo. “The selected aircraft type can transport 28t per flight, significantly larger cargo volumes than in the short-haul bellies of passenger aircraft. In addition to forwarders, integrators and postal operators, eCommerce providers will be customers for this offering,” von Boxberg added. “With more than 60 years of experience in European air transport, Lufthansa CityLine stands for reliable and efficient operations as an important partner in the Lufthansa Group. Flexibility in operations and speed in identifying and implementing new opportunities are the foundation of our business. We want to use these qualities to serve Lufthansa Cargo and its customers,” says Steffen Harbarth, Managing Director of Lufthansa CityLine. The Airbus A321s (A321P2F) converted to freighters offer a payload of 28 tons with a range of 3,500 kilometers. The conversion allows the use of standardized cargo pallets on the main deck as well. The twin-engine Airbus A321 is one of the most versatile aircraft in its class and enables very efficient continental operations.