Fully reopen and resume visitor visa processing at U.S embassies and consulates.Ensure Customs and Border Protection and Transportation Security Administration officers are adequately resourced.Pass the Restoring Brand USA Act to provide emergency relief funding to Brand USA, the United States’ destination marketing organization. Days after the U.S. reopened its land and air borders to vaccinated international visitors, U.S. Travel released its biannual forecast which shows an uneven recovery for the international inbound and business travel segments, while domestic leisure travel has returned to near pre-pandemic levels. The forecast, based on analysis from Tourism Economics, projects that domestic leisure travel will continue to drive the U.S. travel industry’s recovery in the near term. This segment is projected to surpass pre-pandemic levels in 2022 and beyond. Domestic business travel spending is expected to reach 76% of 2019 levels in 2022 while the segment is not expected to fully recover until 2024. International inbound travel spending is forecasted to reach 72% of 2019 levels in 2022. The segment is not expected to fully recover until 2024 or 2025. While the experts see much reason for optimism on the horizon, their forecast reveals that travel’s recovery is uneven with much work ahead to ensure all segments reach pre-pandemic levels. The experts believe that the U.S. can implement smart, effective policies that bring back international visitors more quickly and spur business and professional travel to accelerate an economic and jobs rebound. Policies needed to accelerate the travel industry’s recovery: Fully reopen and resume visitor visa processing at U.S embassies and consulates Pass the Restoring Brand USA Act to provide emergency relief funding to Brand USA, the United States’ destination marketing organization Enact temporary tax credits to restore demand for in-person professional meetings and events Stabilizing policies can help ensure a more even recovery as US aims to restore the itself as the top destination in the world for global travelers.

Israel gives entry clearance to visitors vaccinated with Russian-made COVID-19 vaccine.Tourists fully vaccinated with Sputnik V will be allowed to enter Israel starting December 1.The Russian vaccine itself has been recognized by Israel from November 15, 2021. Israel’s Health and Tourism Ministries and the office of the Israeli Prime Minister issued a joint statement today, announcing that the visitors from the Russian Federation, who have received two shots of the Russian-made Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine, will be allowed to enter the country starting December 1. “Technical and legal issues have been discovered in the existing entry procedure for foreign tourists, which means that it will be possible for tourists vaccinated with Sputnik V to come to Israel starting December 1, 2021. By then, system synchronization will be established, legal formulations and obligations have been completed, and the entry mechanism will work without problems in order to take care of the health of both Israeli citizens and tourists, providing them with comfortable conditions and a pleasant travel experience. We made the decision that Israel will officially recognize the Russian Sputnik V vaccine on November 15, 2021,” the statement said. “Two weeks ago, Israel opened its doors to tourists vaccinated with WHO-recognized vaccines. In light of the successful vaccination of the Israeli population with a third dose and a low incidence of disease, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, together with Minister of Health Nitzan Horowitz and Minister of Tourism Yoel Razvozov made a decision to remove additional restrictions and open borders for tourists vaccinated with Sputnik V and who received a positive antibody test,” the statement said. Since March 2020, Israel has been virtually closed to tourism. Entry into the country was only possible for returning citizens or foreigners who received special permission. Since May, as part of a pilot program, several organized foreign travel groups have been admitted to the country, fully vaccinated with US-approved drugs. The Israeli Ministry of Tourism announced in April that it considers July 1 as a possible date for the start of admission to the country of vaccinated tourists from a number of states on an individual basis, but the implementation of these plans was postponed several times due to the epidemic situation. On November 1, Israel opened its borders for the first time in 20 months for foreign tourists vaccinated no more than six months ago with WHO-approved drugs, subject to a number of conditions for the number of vaccines and boosters received. Foreigners who meet these conditions must do swab tests 72 hours before departure and be isolated at Ben Gurion Airport in Israel until a negative result is obtained. In order to be allowed into Israel, foreigners within 14 days prior to entry “cannot be in a country belonging to the red zone, for the threat of the spread of coronavirus,” the Health Ministry said earlier.

Owens Thomsen will come from Banque Lombard Odier, where she has served as Head of Global Trends and Sustainability.Owens Thomsen holds a PhD in International Economics from The Graduate Institute in Geneva and an MBA equivalent from the University of Gothenburg in International Economics and Business.Holding US, UK and Swiss nationalities, she has worked in the UK, France and Switzerland and is fluent in Swedish, English and French. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that Marie Owens Thomsen will join the Association as its Chief Economist effective 4 January 2022. Owens Thomsen will come from Banque Lombard Odier, where she has served as Head of Global Trends and Sustainability since 2020. Prior to that she was the long-time Global Head of Investment Intelligence (2011-2020) at Indosuez Wealth Management. Additionally, she has served in Chief Economist and related roles for Merrill Lynch, Dresdner Kleinwort Benson and HSBC. Her varied career also includes entrepreneurship and market development activities. “Marie’s work on macro-economic issues with a focus on sustainability will prepare her to address aviation’s top issues—namely recovery from COVID-19 and sustainability. Coming from outside the aviation sector, she will bring valuable new insights and perspectives. And I am confident that she will carry on IATA’s reputation for objective reporting and analysis that is essential for explaining aviation’s contribution to the global economy and advocating for the polices airlines need to be successful,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General. “I am joining IATA to contribute to the aviation sector which has been a formidable long-term driver of economic growth. I’ll do this with a research approach that identifies causal factors for critical issues and their high-priority solutions. This is important as aviation begins the recovery from COVID-19 and continues the journey to net zero emissions. I look forward to a future where aviation can flourish within a sustainable global economy,” said Owens Thomsen. Owens Thomsen holds a PhD in International Economics from The Graduate Institute in Geneva and an MBA equivalent from the University of Gothenburg in International Economics and Business. Holding US, UK and Swiss nationalities, she has worked in the UK, France and Switzerland and is fluent in Swedish, English and French. Owens Thomsen succeeds Brian Pearce who retired from IATA earlier this year after serving as Chief Economist since 2004.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced the results of its 2021 Global Passenger Survey (GPS), which delivered two main conclusions:Passengers want to use biometric identification if it expedites travel processes.Passengers want to spend less time queuing.   “Passengers have spoken and want technology to work harder, so they spend less time ‘being processed’ or standing in queues. And they are willing to use biometric data if it delivers this result. Before traffic ramps up, we have a window of opportunity to ensure a smooth return to travel post-pandemic and deliver long-term efficiency improvements for passengers, airlines, airports, and governments,” said Nick Careen, IATA’s Senior Vice President for Operations, Safety, and Security.  Biometric Identification 73% of passengers are willing to share their biometric data to improve airport processes (up from 46% in 2019). 88% will share immigration information prior to departure for expedited processing. Just over a third of passengers (36%) have experienced the use of biometric data when traveling. Of these, 86% were satisfied with the experience.  Data protection remains a key issue with 56% indicating concern about data breaches. And passengers want clarity on who their data is being shared with (52%) and how it is used/processed (51%).  Queuing 55% of passengers identified queuing at boarding as a top area for improvement. 41% of passengers identified queuing at security screening as a top priority for improvement.38% of passenger identified queuing time at border control / immigration as a top area for improvement.   The greatest wait increases are at check-in and border control (emigration and immigration) where travel health credentials are being checked mainly as paper documents.  This exceeds the time that passengers want to spend on processes at the airport. The survey found that: 85% of passengers want to spend less than 45 mins on processes at the airport if they are traveling with only hand luggage.90% of passengers want to spend less than one hour on processes at the airport when traveling with a checked bag.  Solutions IATA, working with industry stakeholders, has two mature programs which can support a successful ramping-up of aviation post-pandemic and provide travelers with the expedited experience they are demanding. IATA Travel Pass is a solution to manage the complex myriad of travel health credentials that governments require.  The app offers a safe and secure way for travelers to check the requirements for their journey, receive test results and scan their vaccine certificates, verify that these meet the destination and transit requirements and share these effortlessly with health officials and airlines prior to departure and using e-gates. This will reduce queuing and congestion for document checks—to the benefit of travelers, airlines, airports and governments. One ID is an initiative that is helping transition industry towards a day when passengers can move from curb to gate using a single biometric travel token such as a face, fingerprint or iris scan. Airlines are strongly behind the initiative. The priority now is ensuring there is regulation in place to support the vision of a paperless travel experience. One ID will not only make processes more efficient for passengers, but also allow governments to utilize valuable resources more effectively. “We cannot just revert to how things were in 2019 and expect our customers to be satisfied. Pre-pandemic we were preparing to take self-service to the next level with One ID. The crisis makes its twin-promises of efficiency and cost-savings even more urgent. And we absolutely need technologies like IATA Travel Pass to re-enable self-service or the recovery will be overwhelmed by paper document checks. The GPS results are yet another proof point that change is needed,” said Careen. About the GPSGPS results are based on 13,579 responses from 186 countries. The survey provides insight into what passengers would like from their air travel experience. Visit this link to access the complete analysis.

Emirates and Gulf Air have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop a deeper commercial cooperation between both carriers.The MoU will set the framework between both carriers to establish a potential codeshare cooperation across the networks of each airline, extending reciprocal loyalty benefits on Emirates’ Skywards and Gulf Air’s Falconflyer. Discussions are also underway to initiate cargo cooperation.  Signed on the first day of the Dubai Airshow, the MoU will mark the beginning of closer ties between the two airlines. The MoU was signed by Sir Tim Clark, President of Emirates Airline and Gulf Air’s Acting Chief Executive Officer Captain Waleed AlAlawi. The signing ceremony was also attended by members of each airline’s executive management teams. Customers traveling on Emirates and Gulf Air’s operated flights can book single-ticket travel with competitive fares, and one-stop baggage check-in to their final destinations. Emirates will initially place its “EK” marketed code on Gulf Air operated flights between Bahrain and Dubai, and reciprocally, Gulf Air will add its “GF” marketed code to Emirates routes. Sir Tim Clark, President of Emirates Airline said: “We are pleased to partner with Gulf Air on developing this codeshare agreement, which will give customers significantly enhanced choices, convenient schedules, and flexibility to connect between Dubai and Bahrain, and beyond to cities in our extensive long-haul network. We believe that our new partnership will bring real benefits to our customers and business, and today’s agreement is a positive step in our cooperation, and we are on the way to further strengthen our relationship in the future.” During the event, Gulf Air’s Acting Chief Executive Officer said: “This will be a remarkable partnership between one of the first airlines in the Gulf region and one of the biggest carriers in the world. We’re proud to explore opportunities with Emirates to expand our reach and at the same time extend our boutique services to Emirates’ passengers when flying on our network. Gulf Air and Emirates operate multiple flights between Bahrain and Dubai and this agreement will provide passengers with more choices beyond our hubs.”Once the codeshare is activated, customers will be able to book their travel with both airlines on emirates.com and gulfair.com, through online travel agencies as well as with local travel agents.

Demand for air transport will continue to grow, driven by GDP, rising middle class and desire to explore and connect.Continued improvements in fleet efficiency, sustainable fuels, operations and propulsion technologies will enable the sector’s 2050 net-zero objective.Need for over 550,000 new pilots and over 710,000 highly skilled technicians over the next 20 years. In the next 20 years, Airbus forecasts demand for air transport to progressively shift from fleet growth to the accelerated retirement of older, less fuel-efficient aircraft, resulting in a need for some 39,000 new-build passenger and freighter aircraft, 15,250 of these for replacement. As a consequence, by 2040 the vast majority of commercial aircraft in operation will be of the latest generation, up from some 13% today, considerably improving the CO2 efficiency of the world’s commercial aircraft fleets. The economic benefits of aviation extend beyond the sector, contributing around 4% to annual global GDP and sustaining some 90 million jobs worldwide. While having lost nearly two years of growth over the COVID period, passenger traffic has demonstrated its resilience and is set to reconnect to an annual growth of 3.9% per year, driven by expanding economies and commerce around the globe including tourism. The middle classes, who are the likeliest to fly, will grow in number by two billion people to 63% of the world’s population. The fastest traffic growth will be in Asia with domestic China becoming the largest market. The demand for new aircraft will include around 29,700 Small aircraft like the A220 and A320 Families, as well as about 5,300 in the Medium aircraft category such as the A321XLR and the A330neo. In the Large segment, covered by the A350, a need for some 4,000 deliveries  is expected by 2040.  Cargo demand, boosted by e-commerce, is driven by an expected growth in express freight of 4.7% per year and a general cargo (representing about 75% of the market) growth of 2.7%.  Overall, over the next 20 years there will be a need for some 2,440 freighters, of which 880 will be new-build.  In line with growth, ever more efficient aircraft operations globally increase the need for commercial aviation services – including maintenance, training, upgrades, flight operations, dismantling and recycling. This growth is on track at Airbus’ pre-pandemic forecast levels reaching a cumulative value of around $4.8Tn in the next 20 years. While continuing through a COVID-related downdip of some 20% over the 2020-2025 period, the services market is rebounding, triggering a need for some 550,000+ new pilots and 710,000+ highly skilled technicians over the next 20 years. While maintenance will remain the leading services segment, flight, ground operations and sustainable services are also expected to grow significantly.   “As economies and air transport mature, we see demand increasingly driven by replacement rather than growth. Replacement being today’s most significant driver for decarbonization.  The world is expecting more sustainable flying and this will be made possible in the short-term by the introduction of most modern airplanes,” said Christian Scherer, Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Airbus International. “Powering these new, efficient aircraft with Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) is the next big lever. We pride ourselves that all our aircraft  – the A220, A320neo Family, the A330neo and the A350 – are already certified to fly with a blend of 50% SAF, set to rise to 100% by 2030 – before making ZEROe our next reality from 2035 onwards.” The global aviation industry has already achieved huge efficiency gains, as shown by the 53% decline in aviation’s global CO2 emissions since 1990. Airbus’ product range supports at least a 20% CO2 efficiency gain over previous-generation aircraft. In view of further ongoing innovations, product developments, operational improvements as well as market based options, Airbus is supporting the air transport sector’s target to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

All German loans and Silent Participations, including interest, have now been repaid respectively terminated. Under this condition, ESF has undertaken to sell its stake in Deutsche Lufthansa AG amounting to approx. 14 percent of the share capital by October 2023 at the latest.The German government’s package originally provided measures and loans totaling up to 9 billion euros, of which the company has drawn down a total of around 3.8 billion euros. On Friday, Deutsche Lufthansa AG repaid or cancelled all remaining government Stabilization funds from the Federal Republic of Germany. The repayment was made much earlier than originally planned. This was made possible primarily by the rising demand for air travel, the fast restructuring and transformation of the Lufthansa Group and the capital markets’ confidence in the company. This means that this morning, the Silent Participation II of the Economic Stabilization Fund of the Federal Republic of Germany (ESF) amounting to 1 billion euros was repaid in full. After the company had already repaid Silent Participation I in October, of which only 1.5 billion euros were drawn, the unused and remaining part has now been terminated too. Last February, the company had already repaid a KfW loan of 1 billion euros earlier than expected. This means that all German loans and Silent Participations, including interest, have now been repaid respectively terminated. Under this condition, ESF has undertaken to sell its stake in Deutsche Lufthansa AG amounting to approx. 14 percent of the share capital by October 2023 at the latest. Carsten Spohr, CEO of Deutsche Lufthansa AG, says: “On behalf of all Lufthansa employees, I would like to thank the German government and the German taxpayers. In the most serious financial crisis in our company’s history, they have given us a perspective for the future. This has enabled us to save more than 100,000 jobs. We are proud that we were able to keep our promise earlier than expected and repay the German financial aid. I would like to thank our employees for their great commitment and especially our customers who have remained loyal to us in these challenging times. Lufthansa was able to rely on Germany and Germany can rely on Lufthansa. Many challenges remain. Our ambition is to strengthen our position among the world’s leading airline groups. To this end, we will consistently continue the restructuring and transformation of the company. Remco Steenbergen, CFO of Deutsche Lufthansa AG, says: “Above all, I would like to thank our investors for their trust in our company. Without them such a quick exit from the Silent Participations would not have been possible. This trust is an obligation for us to consistently continue on the path we have taken to restructure and transform the Group. We are determined to further strengthen our balance sheet, increase our profitability and generate attractive capital returns. Our financial targets published in June show this very clearly. We are convinced that we will create sustainable value for our shareholders.” In June 2020, the shareholders of Deutsche Lufthansa AG cleared the way for the Stabilization measures of the Economic Stabilization Fund (ESF) of the Federal Republic of Germany. The German government’s package originally provided measures and loans totaling up to 9 billion euros, of which the company has drawn down a total of around 3.8 billion euros. This includes around 306 million euros with which the ESF built up its shareholding in Deutsche Lufthansa AG. To refinance existing liabilities and the government Stabilization packages, the company has taken various debt and equity financing measures since autumn 2020. In doing so, it benefited from the steadily growing confidence of the financial markets in the future prospects of the Lufthansa Group. In November 2020, the company made a “comeback” on the capital markets with a convertible bond with a total volume of 600 million euros and a corporate bond of 1 billion euros. In February 2021, Deutsche Lufthansa AG again successfully issued a bond for 1.6 billion euros. Another bond placement followed in July 2021 in the amount of 1 billion euros. In October 2021, the company successfully completed a capital increase. The gross proceeds from the capital increase amounted to 2.2 billion euros. Finally, on 9 November 2021, the Lufthansa Group was again successfully active on the financial market and issued a bond in the amount of 1.5 billion euros.

FlyersRights.org continues its litigation, supported by independent aviation safety experts.The goal of the FlyersRights litigation is to to compel the FAA to release the MAX fix details and flight testing. FlyersRights.org litigation against Boeing will be one of the few ways to achieve truth and accountability for the 737 MAX crashes. Boeing has settled its civil cases with all but two of the families of the victims of the Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 Boeing 737 MAX crash on March 10, 2019. The ET302 crash, along with the Lion Air Flight 610 crash, just over four months prior, claimed the lives of 357 people.   FlyersRights.org, however, continues its litigation, supported by independent safety experts, to compel the FAA to release the MAX fix details and flight testing. The FAA, at Boeing’s behest, has kept secret all data related to the MAX under a claim of trade secrets, notwithstanding Boeing’s and the FAA’s multiple promises of full transparency. Boeing has admitted liability for compensatory damages caused by the Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crash, and the victims’ families may pursue compensatory damages in Illinois. However, the agreement bars punitive damages, damages that would have punished Boeing for egregious conduct and would deter Boeing and others from such behavior in the future.  “This settlement means that the FlyersRights.org litigation against Boeing will be one of the few ways to achieve truth and accountability for the 737 MAX crashes,” noted Paul Hudson, President of FlyersRights.org. “By avoiding discovery and depositions in these civil cases in addition to having avoided criminal trials and significant fines in its agreements with the federal government, Boeing so far has escaped with merely a slap on the wrist relative to the size of the company and the magnitude of its wrongdoing.” Notably, Boeing hopes to be able to avoid depositions of CEO David Calhoun, former CEO Dennis Muilenburg, and other employees. Boeing agreed to a deferred prosecution agreement with the Department of Justice in January 2021, paying $244 million in fines but admitting no guilt.

According to a recent survey of United’s business customers, nearly 20% say they expect travel to meetings and conferences will exceed pre-pandemic levels in 2022.Between October 27 and November 9, searches on United website for flights to Las Vegas during CES 2022 were up 70% compared to the prior two-week period. United Airlines is adding about 80% of the capacity it did for CES in 2020, demonstrating that business travel is on the rebound. In response to feedback from its business customers and an uptick in demand, United Airlines is expanding its schedule to make it easier for CES 2022 attendees to join the in-person show in Las Vegas. The airline is adding 14 new direct flights in early January between Las Vegas and San Jose, Calif., Boston, Fort Lauderdale, and Orlando, and is also adding 30 flights from its hub airports in San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, and Washington D.C./Dulles. This represents a capacity increase of 37% compared to its usual January schedule to Las Vegas. “The return of in-person conferences and events is a very positive sign in the pandemic recovery, and United is uniquely positioned to capitalize on this increase in demand,” said Ankit Gupta, senior vice president of Domestic Planning and United Express. “We’re adding about 80% of the capacity we did for CES in 2020, demonstrating that business travel is on the rebound and our customers are eager to reunite with clients and colleagues.” Between October 27 and November 9, searches on United Airlines website for flights to Las Vegas during CES 2022 were up 70% compared to the prior two-week period. And according to a recent survey of United’s business customers, nearly 20% say they expect travel to meetings and conferences will exceed pre-pandemic levels in 2022. United Airlines will fly 81 flights into Las Vegas during the peak arrival days of January 3-4, and 109 flights on the peak departure days of January 8-10. New flights include: 8 direct flights from San Jose, California6 direct flights from Fort Lauderdale, Boston and Orlando15 additional flights from San Francisco, and 9 flights on a larger aircraft8 additional flights from Los Angeles, and 4 flights on a larger aircraft5 additional flights from Washington D.C./Dulles2 additional flights from New York/Newark

A notable outcome from COP26 was the move by 23 nations to sign the International Aviation Climate Ambition Declaration. The Declaration recognizes the need for aviation to “grow sustainably” and reiterates ICAO’s role to implement short, medium and long-term climate goals for the industry.Ensuring the maximum effectiveness of the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation, and the development and deployment of sustainable aviation fuels are key aims of the Declaration. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) welcomed the commitments towards strengthening climate action made at COP26, and called on the global efforts to decarbonize aviation to be supported with practical, effective government policies. Management of international aviation’s climate commitments sits outside of the COP process and is the responsibility of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Nevertheless, airlines at the 77th IATA AGM in Boston, October, agreed to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, in line with the stretch Paris agreement target to keep global warming to 1.5 degrees. “Airlines are on the pathway to net-zero carbon emissions, in line with the Paris agreement. We all want the freedom to fly sustainably. Reaching net-zero emissions will be a huge task requiring the collective effort of industry and support from governments. The pledges made at COP26 show that many governments understand the key to rapid progress is to incentivize technological change and fund innovative solutions. This is particularly true of sustainable aviation fuels, which will play a major role in addressing aviation’s environmental impact—they need the right incentives from governments to ramp-up production,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General. A notable outcome from COP26 was the move by 23 nations to sign the International Aviation Climate Ambition Declaration. The Declaration recognizes the need for aviation to “grow sustainably” and reiterates ICAO’s role to implement short, medium and long-term climate goals for the industry. Ensuring the maximum effectiveness of the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), and the development and deployment of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) are key aims of the Declaration. “We are grateful to those states who have signed the International Aviation Climate Ambition Declaration and we urge more countries commit to this initiative. The robust and realistic plan to fly net zero by 2050 agreed by our member airlines can be of great use to ICAO member states as they move forward with a global framework and long-term goal for aviation carbon reductions,” said Walsh.

New air taxi aircraft took a test flight at Seoul’s Gimpo Airport.A public test flight of the aircraft is scheduled for next week in Seoul’s Incheon Airport.South Korea last year announced plans to develop national UAM infrastructure, investing some $65 million in the technology. An 18-rotor aircraft designed by German company Volocopter made a short test flight at Seoul’s Gimpo Airport on Thursday. [embedded content] A crewed test flight of an unusual aircraft designed to serve as an air taxi in the near future has been conducted with pilot taking it into the air and flying it back and forth inside a designated air corridor. It is hoped the new air taxi system will alleviate traffic congestion in South Korea‘s capital city and be operational by 2025. The urban air mobility (UAM) aircraft covered some 3km, staying under an altitude of 50 meters and reaching a speed of 45kph during the five-minute test flight. The main purpose of the test was to see how well the unit works in an airport environment, where air traffic control is essential for safe operation. The two-seater model, which uses electric motors to power 18 fixed-pitch propellers similar to a quadcopter drone, made its maiden flight in 2013. A public test flight of the aircraft is scheduled to take place next week in Incheon, the western part of the Seoul Capital Area. South Korea last year announced plans to develop national UAM infrastructure, investing some $65 million in the technology. The government hopes to run air taxis commercially from 2025, ferrying solo passengers between Incheon International Airport and central Seoul at a cost of about $93 per trip – higher than a premium conventional taxi. The price tag is expected to drop more than fivefold by 2035, when UAMs are more readily accepted and are piloted by automated systems rather than humans. However, Volocopter will be facing competition from a domestic UAM called OPPAV. Its developer, Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI), is preparing to conduct a full-sized prototype test flight next year.

US State Department warning comes amid a deepening political crisis in the troubled Caribbean nation.According to MSF, its hospital and emergency room would run out of fuel for generators in three weeks or less.The US Embassy is unlikely to be able to assist US citizens in Haiti with departure if commercial options become unavailable. The United States Department of State warned US citizens in Haiti that “widespread fuel shortages may limit essential services in an emergency, including access to banks, money transfers, urgent medical care, internet and telecommunications, and public and private transportation options,” urging all Americans to leave the troubled Caribbean nation as soon as possible. All American citizens “should carefully consider the risks of traveling to or remaining in Haiti in light of the current security situation and infrastructure challenges”, the US State Department said in a statement. “The US Embassy is unlikely to be able to assist US citizens in Haiti with departure if commercial options become unavailable.” It is not clear how many US citizens currently live in Haiti, but the rare warning from the State Department comes amid a deepening political crisis and a severe fuel shortage that has impacted hospitals, schools and businesses, as the Haitian government and police are struggling to control gangs that have blocked fuel distribution terminals for several weeks. According to  Doctors Without Borders (Medecins Sans Frontieres, or MSF), its hospital and emergency center would run out of fuel for generators in three weeks or less if new supplies do not arrive. The fuel shortage also has threatened Haiti’s water supply, which depends on generators. The situation also has led to a spike in food prices in a country of more than 11 million people where more than 60 percent of the population makes less than $2 a day. The US State Department warning also comes as a group of 17 Christian missionaries who were kidnapped last month, including 16 US citizens, still remain captive.

Moscow office to support growth and expansion plans in response to fast developing Russian market.Chapman Freeborn have appointed Maxim Tsarev as Director General, Russia to lead the business in this new territory.Chapman Freeborn Russia will focus on three key product areas: Cargo, Passenger and Private Jets and OBC (On Board Courier). Global aircraft charter specialist Chapman Freeborn, part of the Avia Solutions Group, opens Moscow office to support growth and expansion plans in response to fast developing Russian market. Chapman Freeborn have appointed Maxim Tsarev as Director General, Russia to lead the business in this new territory. Eric Erbacher, Chapman Freeborn CEO says: “Russia is a fast-developing market and is economically growing. Traditionally the main industries have been oil and gas, mining and machine manufacturing. We see aircraft building, aerospace production and tech as growing industries, as well as automotive and transport. The move to open an office in Moscow is part of our long-term growth and expansion plans. Having Chapman Freeborn positioned in Moscow will allow us to far better work strategically with freight forwarders and support these growing markets with our product offering.” Maxim Tsarev joins the business following 10 years at DSV Global Transport and Logistics, where he progressed to the position of DSV Air & Sea Russia Deputy, Managing Director. Maxim Tsarev comments: “I have always found the air freight and aviation part of transport and logistics the most exciting and interesting.  It is fast-paced and dynamic, and you can see instant results from air transport. When the opportunity arose for me to join Chapman Freeborn, I jumped at it – to be involved from the start, with the new office opening here in Moscow, and the chance to develop and lead the strategy for the Russian market is an exciting challenge.”

Boeing accepts sole responsibility for 737 MAX crashes, wins agreement that avoids punitive damages.Boeing’s lawyers filed a joint court motion Wednesday with the lawyers for the families of the 157 people who died in the 737 MAX crash in Ethiopia, accepting sole liability for the fatal accident and laying out a process to settle almost all the claims.This civil case agreement waiving discovery makes the FlyersRights.org litigation one of the only ways Accountability and Truth about the MAX crashes can be achieved, as well as future Safety to prevent avoidable deaths due to lax, incompetent or corrupt safety decision making. The other ways are whistleblower revelations, criminal investigations and proceedings, Congressional investigations using subpoena powers, and amendments to the Freedom of Information Act. The FAA was tricked to certify the plane. A 2019 Supreme Court decision known as Argus Leader allows regulated corporations like Boeing and federal safety agencies like the FAA to keep their safety decision-making secret and immune from any independent safety expert or public scrutiny. “The defendant, Boeing, has admitted that it produced an airplane that had an unsafe condition that was a proximate cause of Plaintiff’s compensatory damages caused by the Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 accident,” the filing states. Boeing explicitly agreed that the pilots were not at fault. It also exonerated two MAX suppliers: the company that built the jet’s angle of attack sensor and the one that produced, to Boeing’s specification, the aircraft’s faulty flight control software. The motion includes what’s called a stipulation — a binding agreement on the settlement process — that was signed by all but two of the families. The stipulation means compensatory damages for each individual claim will be decided either in mediation or in court in Illinois, where Boeing is headquartered. Boeing agrees not to try to force overseas families, many of them in Africa, to seek damages in their home countries, where damages would be far lower. In a statement Wednesday, Boeing said the agreement “allows the parties to focus their efforts on determining the appropriate compensation for each family.” “Boeing is committed to ensuring that all families who lost loved ones in the accidents are fully and fairly compensated for their loss,” the statement adds. What Boeing gets from the agreement is an explicit exclusion of any claim for punitive damages and an end to legal discovery processes or depositions that would seek further evidence of wrongdoing by Boeing. “The jury shall not hear evidence on issues of liability,” the stipulation states. “The parties further agree that no evidence or argument about punitive damages will properly be the subject of discovery or be admitted.” Ralph Nader, the longtime consumer advocate known for using tort law to hold corporations to account, called it “a strange settlement without Boeing having to guarantee any dollars whatsoever.” Boeing’s acceptance of liability is the closest it has come to a full admission of blame for the two deadly MAX crashes that killed 346 people: Lion Air Flight JT 610 in Indonesia in 2018, followed just over four months later by the crash in Ethiopia. However, it still falls short of telling the world exactly what went wrong in the design and certification of the MAX, how it happened and who was responsible. What caused both MAX crashes was the faulty activation of new flight control software on the jet — the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System, or MCAS — that forced both planes into a nosedive. Yet the company has never publicly accepted that the MCAS design was deeply flawed as certified, except to say that it’s design and testing should have taken more account of typical pilot skills and pilot reaction time — a formulation that pointed some blame at the pilots. Boeing states in the filing that it does “not ascribe fault to the Pilot (Captain), Co-Pilot (First Officer) or seek contributory or comparative negligence against them.” The agreement states that the lawyers for the families will be permitted to use legal discovery to access material such as the data from the flight recorders. That will allow them to create an animation showing what the passengers experienced during the six minutes of the flight to illustrate the terror and suffering of those who died. The final financial cost to Boeing won’t be decided for many months. However, the boundaries that the agreement puts on the claims remove an overhang of uncertainty on the company. With the possibility of further revelations of wrongdoing in court proceedings now remote, Boeing’s leaders can leave it to lawyers to work out the precise compensation amounts while they move on.

Air travelers will have more choice of routes and destinations than ever from the Lombardy gateway this winter.Milan Bergamo Airport welcomes the total to six new air carriers this year.Milan Bergamo’s connection to the world has been significantly enhanced for the 2021-22 winter season. Milan Bergamo is offering numerous new routes this winter season, as well as welcoming further relaunches and frequency increases, to see more choice than ever from the Lombardy gateway. Launching 12 brand new routes – 10 of which are destinations introduced to Milan Bergamo’s route map for the first time – the Italian airport will also welcome another new airline next month as HiSky joins the roll call. Taking the total to six new carriers this year, Milan Bergamo has confirmed Moldovan low-cost carrier (LCC), HiSky will be significantly enhancing the airport’s network late-December. Launching twice-weekly links to Baia Mare, Targu Mures and Chisinau, the LCC will offer nearly 14,000 seats during W21/22 to historic and economic hubs of Romania and Moldova. Joining the list of new destinations, the first day of the winter season saw Eurowings introduce connectivity to the noteworthy areas of Düsseldorf and the industrial belt of the Ruhr, initially launching a four-times weekly service which will increase to six-times weekly by February 2022. Meanwhile Ryanair has added five new destinations from Milan Bergamo – Birmingham, Helsinki, Liverpool, Stockholm Arlanda and Toulouse – while resuming Düsseldorf Weeze and Kharkiv, the Irish carrier now serving 107 destinations from Lombardy. With the addition of London Gatwick (three-times weekly with easyJet), Paris Orly (three-times weekly with Vueling), and Oslo (twice-weekly with Flyr from January 2022), Milan Bergamo’s connection to the world has been significantly enhanced. Commenting on the new airline and destination announcements, Giacomo Cattaneo, Director of Commercial Aviation, SACBO says: “The recovery of traffic and rebuilding our network is ongoing, and as we continue to emerge from the difficulties of the last 18 months, we’re very proud to welcome new airlines and routes. These additions to our network show our commitment to offer more choice while we have also developed our facilities to ensure we are not only ready for full recovery but also expansion. Our new airside terminal is now complete, with the addition of six boarding gates, baggage carousels and added retail offering.” Cattaneo continued: “SACBO’s investment hasn’t stop there. We are already carrying out further development landside. The refurbishment of the check-in area has begun and will shortly be followed by an extension with a brand-new security area. Notwithstanding a train link, larger northern apron and new northern taxiway all in the pipeline, Milan Bergamo’s investment in the future is clear for our passengers and partners alike.”

The program establishes a worldwide milestone towards the air freight decarbonization.Qatar Airways Cargo wants to lead the way in meeting customer expectations for the highest standards of environmental sustainability.The pilot uses an IATA industry best practice for calculating CO2 emissions per freight kg. In partnership with the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Qatar Airways Cargo, the freight division of Qatar Airways Group, will become the first cargo carrier to join the IATA CO2NNECT platform and offer a customized environmental solution for its clients. Kuehne+Nagel, one of the world’s leading freight forwarders, will be the launch customer for the platform, in line with their commitment to sustainability. To mark this partnership, on 01 November 2021 Qatar Airways Cargo operated the first carbon-neutral air freight shipments from Doha to Frankfurt, Zaragoza, Liège and Paris. This new chapter of the voluntary carbon offsetting program, built under an IATA umbrella, establishes an industry milestone to accelerate the decarbonization of aviation and enables air cargo shipments to become carbon neutral by offering an integrated carbon calculation and offset solution between Qatar Airways, shippers, and freight forwarders such as Kuehne+Nagel. It will provide its customers assurance that the credits bought to offset these emissions are from projects delivering independently verified carbon reductions, as well as wider environmental and social benefits. The pilot project was launched on four (4) routes, with plans to extend to the rest of its cargo network of over sixty (60) freighter destinations and more than one-hundred forty (140) passenger destinations worldwide. The pilot uses an IATA industry best practice for calculating CO2 emissions per freight kg. With this program, cargo customers can easily offset the emissions associated with the air freight shipments, as a step towards achieving their environmental sustainability commitments. Only verified, high quality and ICAO CORSIA (Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation) eligible offsets will be used. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “As Qatar Airways first launched its carbon offset program for passengers in 2020, we are pleased to now offer them the option of transporting the air cargo in a CO2 neutral way in the future. Qatar Airways Cargo has always been at the forefront of industry initiatives. I am proud of our efforts to support aviation industry in achieving the ambitious carbon emission reduction targets.” Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General, said, “The industry target of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 applies to both passengers and cargo. It also needs all stakeholders in the industry to work together and embrace innovative solutions. Congratulations to Qatar Airways Cargo for being the first to implement CO2NNECT, and to Kuehne+Nagel for being a launch customer. As the world gathers for the COP26 meeting to strengthen global carbon-reduction plans, the launch of this offsetting solution shows our industry-wide commitment to sustainable air cargo.”

With demand for domestic trips rising, airlines could benefit extensively from APD cut.The cut in APD will be met positively by domestic airlines, especially those with larger networks.UK airlines pivoted towards serving domestic destinations in response to an uptick in demand, while international travel demand remained suppressed. UK-based domestic airlines will see the reduction in domestic air passenger duty (APD) as a vital boost to the aviation industry. With demand for domestic trips rising, combined with the halving of APD in 2023, airlines could benefit extensively. The cut in APD will be met positively by domestic airlines, especially those with larger networks. A £7 ($9.65) reduction in tax will allow carriers to reduce prices to further stimulate demand. Furthermore, UK airlines pivoted towards serving domestic destinations in response to an uptick in demand, while international travel demand remained suppressed. With a wide network, UK travelers could be more willing to travel on domestic flights in the future once the tax reduction occurs. However, a demand increase would only occur if the cost savings were passed onto the customer in the form of cheaper ticket prices. Airlines with a large presence in the UK domestic market are set to benefit the most from these changes. APD has been criticized as holding airlines back from operating large fleets domestically and this news may loosen the shackles. Logan Air, British Airways, and Eastern Airways have extensive domestic networks and are among the players who will benefit from the UK halving its domestic APD. Loganair will be a large beneficiary, with the airline having filled the void left by Flybe during the pandemic. The industry has long lobbied for APD to be reduced, and the reduction could see some airlines offer additional routes as prices become more competitive relative to other forms of transport. Furthermore, Flybe 2.0 could benefit. The high value of APD in the UK was cited as a major contributing reason as to why Flybe collapsed. A significant cut will offer more favorable operating conditions for the carrier when it relaunches. For many UK travelers, their financial positions have changed in recent times. Recent consumer survey revealed that 73% of UK respondents were ‘extremely’, ‘quite’, or ‘slightly’ concerned about their financial position because of the pandemic, highlighting the benefits of a reduction in APD. Airlines could struggle to stimulate demand during the COVID-19 recovery period. With financial concerns high, a reduction in APD will allow carriers to lower prices and better meet the needs of budget-conscious travelers. Furthermore, affordability was ranked as the top factor by UK respondents when deciding where to go on holiday, with 48% of respondents choosing this factor as the most important. Reducing APD on domestic flights could increase demand when the new rates come in for 2023. In two years’ time, international travel may be much more accessible for UK travelers. A reduction in the cost of domestic flights could help the UK travel market to retain some of the travelers that chose to holiday in the UK during the pandemic.

Fraport’s Group airports worldwide report positive airline passenger traffic performance.Frankfurt Airport achieves ongoing strong cargo growth.Traffic volumes at some airports even rose by over 100 percent year-on-year, albeit compared to strongly reduced traffic levels in October 2020. Achieving the highest monthly traffic volume since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Frankfurt Airport (FRA) welcomed some 3.4 million passengers in October 2021. This represents an increase of 218.5 percent year-on-year, albeit compared to a very weak October 2020. The recovery in passenger traffic continued to be driven mainly by holiday travel to European destinations. FRA’s passenger traffic rebounded to more than half of the pre-pandemic level reported in October 2019 (down 47.2 percent). During the January-to-October 2021 period, a total of some 19.2 million passengers traveled via Frankfurt Airport. Compared to the same period last year, this represents an 11.5 percent increase over 2020, and a 68.3 percent decline over 2019. Cargo throughput, comprising airfreight and airmail, continued to grow noticeably by 10.0 percent year-on-year to 200,187 metric tons in the reporting month (up 11.7 percent compared to October 2019). Aircraft movements climbed 75.4 percent year-on-year to 30,004 takeoffs and landings in October 2021. Accumulated maximum takeoff weights (MTOWs) increased by 63.1 percent year-on-year to nearly 1.9 million metric tons. Fraport’s Group airports worldwide also continued their positive passenger trend in October 2021. Most of them achieved significant passenger growth. Traffic volumes at some airports even rose by over 100 percent year-on-year, albeit compared to strongly reduced traffic levels in October 2020. Compared to pre-pandemic October 2019, the majority of the airports in Fraport’s international portfolio still registered lower passenger figures. However, some Group airports serving high-demand tourist destinations – such as the Greek airports or Antalya Airport on the Turkish Riviera – saw traffic rebound to over 90 percent of the pre-crisis level recorded in October 2019. St Petersburg’s Pulkovo Airport in Russia even posted a 5.7 percent traffic increase in the reporting month compared to October 2019.  Slovenia’s Ljubljana Airport (LJU) welcomed 57,338 passengers in October 2021. In Brazil, combined traffic at the two airports of Fortaleza (FOR) and Porto Alegre (POA) rose to 908,553 passengers. Lima Airport (LIM) in Peru served some 1.2 million passengers in the reporting month. At the 14 Greek regional airports, total traffic advanced to about 2.4 million passengers. The Twin Star airports of Burgas (BOJ) and Varna (VAR) on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast also reported traffic gains, serving a total of 111,922 passengers in October 2021. Antalya Airport (AYT) in Turkey had about 3.8 million passengers. More than 1.8 million passengers used Pulkovo Airport (LED) in St. Petersburg, while China’s Xi’an Airport (XIY) welcomed around 1.9 million passengers in the reporting month.

Starting from November 19, 2021, the first international routes into AlUla will take off from Dubai and Kuwait.The first flight on November 19 is timed to coincide with the next musical event at Maraya. Faia Younan, the young soprano and her world-class band will perform live at Maraya on the same date. Flynas, the Saudi national air carrier and leading low-cost airline in the Middle East, has announced its latest flights expansion including the first ever direct international flights into AlUla International Airport. Starting from 19th November 2021, the first international routes into AlUla will take off from Dubai and Kuwait. Domestic routes added as part of the expansion include Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah. The announcement marks the first time that international travelers will enjoy direct access to one of the most significant archeological and historical sites in the world. The first flight to AlUla will be inaugurated on 19th November 2021, from Dubai International Airport during a special ceremony that will celebrate the history and heritage of AlUla and promote flynas’ award-winning air travel services. Commenting on this milestone, CEO at flynas Mr. Bander Almohanna said, “We are excited to make AlUla more accessible to all travelers in the region, a destination that is truly unique and never fails to impress even the most experienced travelers.” He then added, “We are confident that our partnership with the Royal Commission for AlUla will be one of many contributing factors to achieving the ambitious targets of Saudi Vision 2030 advancing the Kingdom’s position as a leading regional and global tourism destination.” Phillip Jones, Chief Destination Management and Marketing Officer for Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) commented, “For millennia, AlUla has been a crossroads of civilizations. Our ancient oasis has welcomed travelers and settlers to share commodities, ideas and build communities. Today is a huge milestone for AlUla as we will once again be on the international travelers route. Visitors can directly access AlUla with flynas direct flights from Dubai and Kuwait we look to introducing more visitors to the monumentality of the destination.” The first flight on 19th November is timed to coincide with the next musical event at Maraya. Faia Younan, the young soprano and her world-class band will perform live at Maraya on the same date. The schedule of international and domestic flights from/to AlUla will be: 4 weekly flights between AlUla & Riyadh 3 weekly flights between AlUla & Dubai 3 weekly flights between AlUla & Jeddah 3 weekly flights between AlUla & Dammam 2 weekly flights between AlUla & Kuwait With this new milestone, flynas reiterates its commitment towards offering attractive and in-demand destination options that meet its passenger’s expectations. Furthermore, flynas seeks to keep pace with the growing demand in the travel and tourism industry that is anticipated to witness a major rebound in the coming phase as countries continue to recover from the unprecedented repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic.

United Service Organizations (USO) opened a new center in Pittsburgh International Airport.The USO Pittsburgh Airport Center will provide a comforting place for military personnel passing through Pittsburgh to relax and recharge.Dedicated volunteers staff the center to ensure US service members have access to all amenities. On November 10, 2021, the United Service Organizations (USO) opened a new center in Pittsburgh International Airport to support the thousands of service members who travel through western Pennsylvania each year. “The USO Pittsburgh Airport Center will provide a comforting place for military personnel passing through Pittsburgh to relax and recharge,” said Rebecca Parkes, USO northeast regional president. “We are grateful to the Allegheny County Airport Authority for helping us establish a USO center that will serve our heroes in uniform. No matter where service members may be traveling, those who pass through Pittsburgh International Airport can count on the USO to provide a warm welcome.” The new airport center was made possible through the generous support of the American public. The USO is also grateful for donations from Sheetz and other donors, which made the dream of having a USO center at the airport become a reality. The USO will assume the operation of the airport’s Military Lounge in Concourse C, which has been serving service members since 2008. The lounge receives nearly 1,000 visitors annually. The Airport Authority operates Pittsburgh International Airport. “Thank you to all of our service members who sacrifice so much for our nation,” said Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald. “This is a great partnership between the USO and the airport. We are grateful for their work, which provides a welcoming center for those departing from and arriving to our region.” Dedicated volunteers staff the center to ensure service members have access to amenities, including: Complimentary individually wrapped snacks and beverages$10 food voucher provided by ACAA Charitable FoundationSeating areas with cable TVsRest area with fully reclining chairsComputer lab area with computers, printer, and internet accessGaming systemKids’ area with toys “We are proud to continue our commitment to the Pittsburgh region, especially our community of active duty and reserve military members and their families,” said Allegheny County Airport Authority Senior Vice President of Public Safety, Operations, and Maintenance Travis McNichols, an Air Force veteran. “The center will provide service members with a comfortable place to wait for flights and reconnect with loved ones while in transit.” The new USO Center was celebrated with an opening ceremony Wednesday that included regional dignitaries and veterans from the Airport Authority.

The 54th Annual General Meeting of the Arab Air Carriers’ Organization is the first in-person AACO AGM since the COVID-19 pandemic. The Director General of the Arab Civil Aviation Organization, the Director General for Mobility and Transport/European Commission, and the Director General of IATA are also participating in this landmark event.As the aviation industry continues to navigate some of the most uncertain market conditions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, there has never been a more critical moment to come together as a unified voice on the path to recovery. Qatar Airways welcomes industry leaders, international and regional aviation organizations, airline manufacturers and air transport executives from around the world to Doha as it hosts the 54th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Arab Air Carriers’ Organization (AACO).   The landmark event is the first in-person AACO AGM since the COVID-19 pandemic. It is being hosted under the patronage of His Excellency Mr. Jassim bin Saif bin Ahmed Al Sulaiti, Minister of Transport of the State of Qatar, and at the invitation of His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, Group Chief Executive of Qatar Airways.  This important summit will see senior aviation decision-makers – including the CEOs of member airlines – gather for three days, from 10-12 November 2021, to discuss the strategic aviation issues in the region, including the challenges and impact of COVID-19, as the industry works together for a safe, secure, and sustainable restart and recovery of the aviation sector.  The Director General of the Arab Civil Aviation Organization, the Director General for Mobility and Transport/European Commission, and the Director General of IATA are also participating in this landmark event. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “As the aviation industry continues to navigate some of the most uncertain market conditions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, there has never been a more critical moment to come together as a unified voice on the path to recovery. That is why Qatar Airways is proud to host the 54th AACO AGM – a platform for our regional Arab bloc of air carriers to collectively ensure that our industry emerges from this unprecedented crisis stronger than ever.”   AACO Secretary General, Mr. Abdul Wahab Teffaha said: “After a year and a half of unexpected disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic that impacted all aspects of life, it is very fitting that we meet for AACO’s 54th Annual General Meeting in a state that views aviation as a major contributor to economic growth and job creation. My appreciation and gratitude go to His Excellency Minister Jassim bin Saif bin Ahmed Al Sulaiti for bestowing his patronage on this General Assembly and His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al-Baker for hosting this Assembly with the genuine hospitality that we always enjoy in the State of Qatar and with our host Qatar Airways.”

Boeing 777X will be on display at the Dubai Airshow starting November 14, 2021.Building on the best of the industry-leading 777 and 787 Dreamliner families, the 777-9 will be the world’s largest and most efficient twin-engine jet.The 777X family has a total of 351 orders and commitments from eight leading customers around the globe. The new Boeing 777X arrived at Dubai World Central at 14:02 p.m. (GST) today, ahead of the upcoming Dubai Airshow. The airplane will be on static display and featured in the show’s flying program starting November 14. The 777-9 flight test airplane made a nearly 15-hour nonstop flight from Seattle’s Boeing Field to Dubai, the first international flight and longest flight to date for the 777X as it continues to undergo a rigorous test program. Building on the best of the industry-leading 777 and 787 Dreamliner families, the 777-9 will be the world’s largest and most efficient twin-engine jet, delivering 10% better fuel use, emissions and operating costs than the competition and an exceptional passenger experience. The 777X family has a total of 351 orders and commitments from eight leading customers around the globe. First delivery of the airplane is expected in late 2023. Boeing develops, manufactures and services commercial airplanes, defense products and space systems for customers in more than 150 countries. As a top U.S. exporter, the company leverages the talents of a global supplier base to advance economic opportunity, sustainability and community impact. Boeing’s diverse team is committed to innovating for the future and living the company’s core values of safety, quality and integrity.

Representatives from Jamaica, American Airlines, and Philadelphia International Airport gathered to welcome passengers traveling to Jamaica on the new flight.These new flights to Jamaica from Philadelphia provide additional convenient options for visitors and Caribbean nationals from the Northeastern U.S. to travel to island.It is an ideal time of year to impact Jamaica’s high season arrivals. “We are very pleased to welcome this new service from our largest air passenger carrier, American Airlines,” said Director of Tourism, Jamaica, Donovan White. “These new flights to Jamaica from Philadelphia provide additional convenient options for visitors and Caribbean nationals from the Northeastern U.S. to travel to island. With a large diaspora population living in this region, it will now be easier than ever for them to fly right into Kingston. We’re further grateful to American for inaugurating this additional service at the ideal time of year to impact Jamaica’s high season arrivals.” Representatives from Jamaica, American Airlines, and Philadelphia International Airport gathered at the gate to welcome passengers traveling to Jamaica on the new flight, including dozens of travel agents being hosted for fam trips by the Jamaica Tourist Board. In addition to the ribbon-cutting, all were entertained with the upbeat sounds of Jamaican music and complimentary Jamaica back packs. Complimentary light bites, including traditional Jamaican patties, were also catered from Irie Entrée, an authentic Jamaican restaurant located in Philadelphia, giving travelers a taste of the island. Travelers further sampled Jamaica’s famous Blue Mountain Coffee. According to Jim Tyrrell, Chief Revenue Officer, Philadelphia International Airport, Kingston is a destination that meets the criteria for what today’s travelers are seeking. “As passengers have resumed their travel, the top destinations we’ve seen people traveling to are those that have sun, sand and beaches and also those where they can visit their families and friends,” said Tyrell. “Kingston checks all the boxes. It is beautiful and also was one of the top unserved family and friends’ destinations out of Philadelphia. Now they can fly out of a hometown airport and get to the friends and beaches much quicker.” Upon landing in Jamaica, Kingston’s Norman Manley International Airport (KIN) welcomed the flight with a traditional water cannon salute and flag salute, with the Jamaican and US flags waving alongside each other in the cockpit of the plane. Officials from the Jamaican Tourist Board, Ministry of Tourism and Jamaica Hotel and Tourism Association were also in attendance to greet disembarking travelers while a high-spirited live musical performance took place in the background. Gifts were presented to the pilots and crews of the flights, in true island manner, to show appreciation of their service during welcome receptions. American Airlines’ non-stop flights to Kingston (KIN) are now operating three times weekly Mon/Thurs/Sun from Philadelphia (PHL) departing at 9:40AM and arriving in Kingston (KIN) at 1:32PM. This new service is American Airlines’ second nonstop route from PHL to Jamaica, complementing the carrier’s existing non-stop daily flights to Montego Bay. Flight schedules are subject to change without notice, so travelers are encouraged to check www.aa.com for the most updated schedule. As of this month, American Airlines has up gauged the aircraft utilized on flights to Montego Bay (MBJ) from their major city hubs of Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), Miami (MIA), and Philadelphia (PHL) to utilize their new wide-bodied Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner for these operations. The carrier operates multiple daily non-stop flights to the destination from several U.S. cities including Miami (MIA), New York (JFK), Philadelphia (PHL), Chicago (ORD), Boston (BOS), Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW, and Charlotte (CLT).

Air Astana to resume direct flights to Kyrgyzstan’s capital, Bishkek starting on November 17, 2021. Air Astana will be using Embraer E190-E2 aircraft on Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan – Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan route.Nur-Sultan – Bishkek flights will initially be operating twice a week on Wednesdays and Sundays. Air Astana will resume direct flights from Nur-Sultan to Kyrgyzstan’s capital, Bishkek on 17th November 2021. The services will initially be operated using Air Astana Embraer E190-E2 aircraft twice a week on Wednesdays and Sundays, with an additional two frequencies on Mondays and Fridays commencing in December. Services between Almaty to Bishkek are already operating daily. Embraer E190-E2 aircraft have premium economy and economy class cabin configuration, with premium economy passengers being offered priority check-in and boarding, increased baggage allowance, business class menu and business lounge access. All passengers travelling to Kyrgyzstan, including citizens of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan, children from the age of six and transit passengers, must present a PCR certificate with a negative result, with test undertaken with within 72 hours prior to departure. Fully vaccinated passengers exempt from this requirement. Air Astana is the flag carrier of Kazakhstan, based in Almaty. It operates scheduled, domestic and international services on 64 routes from its main hub, Almaty International Airport, and from its secondary hub, Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport.

Airline passenger traffic recovery leads to strong revenue growth in first 9 months of 2021. Demand for holiday travel during the summer months was relatively strong.The result has improved due to financial compensation received for pandemic-related losses incurred at various Group airports. The Fraport global airport company achieved a significant increase in revenue and the Group result (net profit) during both the third quarter and the first nine months (ended September 30) of the 2021 business year. Factors contributing to this increase included a positive operational performance and several one-off effects. Forecasts for the upcoming winter season are also optimistic. Therefore, Fraport has revised its full-year outlook for revenue and other key financial figures slightly upwards. Traffic development at Frankfurt Airport is forecast to reach the upper area of the expected performance range, between under 20 million to 25 million passengers. Fraport CEO, Dr. Stefan Schulte, explained: “Following the massive losses experienced in 2020 and the resulting sharp rise in debt, we are now seeing brighter prospects ahead. Demand for holiday travel during the summer months was relatively strong. Moreover, our result has improved due to financial compensation received for pandemic-related losses incurred at various Group airports. Now, we are also expecting intercontinental traffic to gradually recover – supported by the recent re-opening of the U.S. borders. Consequently, we are a bit more optimistic about the winter season than we were just a few months ago. Nevertheless, it is still a long way ahead until we reach pre-pandemic passenger levels again and are able to reduce our debt significantly.” Third quarter: revenue and net profit grow strongly Boosted by a noticeable recovery in holiday travel during the summer season, revenue soared in the third quarter of 2021 by 79.5 percent to €633.8 million compared to €353.1 million in the same quarter in 2020 (both values have been adjusted for IFRIC 12 related contract revenue from construction and expansion measures at Fraport’s subsidiaries worldwide). EBITDA rose to €288.6 million in the third quarter, up from minus €250.3 million in Q3/2020. However, this gain also reflects a number of one-off effects: In the third quarter of 2020, earnings were negatively impacted by the creation of provisions for personnel-reduction measures totaling €279.5 million. This year, in turn, a positive contribution in the third quarter came from COVID-related compensation to our subsidiaries in the U.S., Slovenia and Greece – which boosted the Group’s “Other Income” by some €30 million. Adjusting for these one-off effects, Fraport still posted strong EBITDA growth of 785.6 percent to €258.6 million in the third quarter of 2021, versus €29.2 million in the same period last year. The Group result – or net profit – grew to €102.6 million in Q3/2021 (including the aforementioned one-off effects), compared to minus €305.8 million in Q3/2020. First nine months of 2021: Fraport achieves solid operating result, supported by positive one-off effects  During the first nine months of the current year, Group revenue rose by 18.3 percent year-on-year to nearly €1.4 billion (excluding IFRIC 12 effects). Along with passenger growth outside of Frankfurt, revenue was positively impacted by an agreement reached in the first quarter of 2021 between Fraport and the German Federal Police (Bundespolizei) for remuneration of aviation security services provided by Fraport previously. The agreement generated extra revenue of €57.8 million. Other one-off effects also had a positive impact on the income side: These included compensation from the German and State of Hesse governments granted to Fraport for maintaining Frankfurt Airport’s operational readiness during lockdown, as well as pandemic compensation to the Group’s subsidiaries in Greece, the U.S. and Slovenia – which contributed a total of €275.1 million to Fraport’s “Other Income”. Combined with the remuneration payment from the German Federal Police, these non-recurring effects contributed a total of €332.9 million to other income, with a corresponding positive effect on the operating result (EBITDA).

International tourists without booster vaccination will be able to enter Israel.Tourists without the third COVID-19 vaccine shot will be required to be a part of tour group.New Israeli foreign tourist entry requirement goes in effect tomorrow, November 9, 2021. Israeli government announced today that foreign tourists without a booster shot against COVID-19 will still be allowed to enter Israel, but only as part of organized tour groups. Foreign visitors without booster vaccination will be able to enter Israel if more than six months have passed since they had gotten the second shot, Israel’s health and tourism ministries said in a joint statement. Those visitors will be subject to a number of conditions though, the ministries said. The tour group must be granted permission by the tourism ministry to enter Israel, and its members – five to 40 people – should be from countries with a favorable epidemiological situation and vaccinated with the vaccines recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO). The new requirements will be effective starting tomorrow. Israel opened its borders from November 1 to individual tourists inoculated with WHO-recognized vaccines – those by Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Janssen, Sinovac and Sinopharm – provided for they did not travel to countries classified as “red” zones over the past 14 days. Starting from November 15, tourists, vaccinated with Sputnik V Russian-made vaccine, are expected to be allowed to enter Israel. They must take a serology test, which detects antibodies. Reopening Israel’s borders is seen as a vital step to somewhat restoring Israeli tourism industry, which has been devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic and accompanying restrictions. Welcoming the decision to now allow tour groups into the country without a booster shot, Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz said today that “also with regard to tourism, we need to learn to live alongside the coronavirus.” Tourism Minister Yoel Razvozov said, “The road to returning tourists is still long, so we must act quickly and correctly in order to increase the number of tourists who come to Israel.”

This service on Boeing Next Generation 737-700 aircraft operates Monday, Friday and Saturday.The flight departs HVN at 2:30 p.m. arriving TPA at 5:25 p.m.The returning flight departs TPA at 6:15 p.m. arriving HVN at 9:00 p.m. Avelo Airlines will soar to its third Florida destination today from Tweed-New Haven Airport (HVN) — Tampa Bay.  “We are excited to depart for Avelo’s third Florida destination this afternoon,” said Avelo Chairman and CEO Andrew Levy. “We’re making it easier and more convenient for Southern Connecticut residents to get to Tampa. With our very low introductory fares, Tampa and the other five sun-soaked Florida destinations Avelo serves are now more affordable than ever.” This service on Boeing Next Generation 737-700 aircraft operates Monday, Friday and Saturday. The flight departs HVN at 2:30 p.m. arriving TPA at 5:25 p.m. The returning flight departs TPA at 6:15 p.m. arriving HVN at 9:00 p.m. “Today’s first departure destined for Tampa Bay is yet another exciting milestone in our rapidly-growing partnership with Avelo here at HVN,” said Tweed-New Haven Airport Executive Director Sean Scanlon. “The energy here at the airport and in the community in the last few days has been incredible as we kick off a new and more vibrant era at HVN.” Avelo Airlines initiated service from its East Coast base at HVN last Wednesday (November 3) with its inaugural flight to Orlando. Tampa Bay is the third of six popular Florida destinations Avelo Airlines serves from HVN. In addition to Fort Lauderdale (which initiated service last Friday), Orlando and Tampa Bay, Avelo will begin flying to Fort Myers, Palm Beach and Sarasota in the days and weeks ahead. Amidst the crowds, long lines, lengthy walks and traffic congestion encountered at other airports frequented by Connecticut travelers, HVN offers a refreshingly smooth and simple alternative hometown airport experience. HVN’s adjacency to multiple major highways and commuter railways make it Connecticut’s most convenient and easily accessible airport. Avelo is the first airline to offer nonstop flights between HVN and Florida. Avelo’s arrival to HVN also marks the largest expansion of service at HVN in more than 30 years. Avelo is investing $1.2 million to help upgrade and modernize facilities and operations as part of an overall $100 million project at HVN. The airport expansion will include a new terminal and extended runway spearheaded by airport operator Avports. Over the past 90 days, Avelo has hired more than 85 HVN-based Crewmembers (what the airline calls its employees), including flight attendants, pilots, airport customer service representatives, operations-related roles, as well as managers and supervisors. Avelo and HVN expect to have more than 100 aviation professionals based at the airport by the end of this year.

Judge Kimberly Fitzpatrick’s ruling rejects all portions of a motion for summary judgment filed by American that sought to avoid allowing a jury to hear the case.The case is set for trial in her 342nd Judicial District Court January 24, 2022.Kimberly Goesling’s lawsuit includes claims of sexual assault, conspiracy and retaliation. An American Airlines flight attendant who says she was sexually assaulted by a celebrity chef hired by the airline will get the chance to tell her story to a jury, following a key ruling by a Tarrant County district court judge. The ruling, by Judge Kimberly Fitzpatrick, rejects all portions of a motion for summary judgment filed by American Airlines that sought to avoid allowing a jury to hear the case. The case is set for trial in her 342nd Judicial District Court January 24. “Our belief has always been that when a jury in Fort Worth hears this case and they hear what happened to my client – and how American ignored her and then retaliated against her – they will be appalled,” says attorney Robert Miller of Miller Bryant LLP in Dallas, who represents the plaintiff. “All we have ever wanted is a chance to tell our story to a jury and now we have that chance.” The plaintiff in the case, Kimberly Goesling of Fort Worth, first publicly told the story of what happened to her – and American’s role in it – in a 2021 Facebook and Instagram video that has reached more than 25,000 people.  Ms. Goesling, a nearly 30-year flight attendant for American Airlines, has a work record that puts her among the company’s best. She was a flight crew leader and worked on the airline’s recruitment and training teams. More than once, she received glowing reviews for work performance, often resulting in special assignments. In January 2018, one such trip took her to Germany, where along with other American Airlines employees, she helped develop a special international menu for first- and business-class passengers. Also on the trip was a celebrity chef whom American hired without a background check and continued to employ even after it learned of prior allegations against him for alcohol abuse and inappropriate sexual conduct, according to the lawsuit. On the final night of the group’s stay, the chef forced his way into Ms. Goesling’s hotel room and sexually assaulted her. American’s own investigation later showed he admitted to the attack. When she reported the attack to the company, managers promised to pay Ms. Goesling for treatment and allow her time away from work shifts, as needed. They did neither, instead removing her from her coveted position on the airline’s recruitment team. Her lawsuit includes claims of sexual assault, conspiracy and retaliation. The case is Kimberly Goesling v. American Airlines et al., Cause No. 342-314565-20 in the 342nd Judicial District Court in Tarrant County.

TAP Air Portugal returns to New York’s JFK and Newark airports with flights from Lisbon.TAP will operate daily nonstops from JFK from November 7 through January 31, 2022, reducing to four flights weekly from February 2 through March 25.  The new flight, TP 210, will depart JFK at 10pm, arriving in Lisbon at 9:30am, the following morning.   TAP Air Portugal is once again operating from all 7 of its US gateways with the return of service from New York’s John F Kennedy International Airport last night.  With daily service from JFK through January and for the summer season, New Yorkers will have three daily flights to Lisbon on TAP, from JFK and Newark Liberty International. TAP will operate daily nonstops from JFK from November 7 through January 31, 2022, reducing to four flights weekly (on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays) from February 2 through March 25.   JFK service will operate daily again for summer, starting March 27. The new flight, TP 210, will depart JFK at 10pm, arriving in Lisbon at 9:30am, the following morning. The returning flight, TP 209, will leave Lisbon at 5pm, arriving at JFK at 8pm. The new route will be operated with TAP’s Airbus A330-900neo aircraft, featuring the new Airspace by Airbus cabin.   The cabin’s configuration and design create an updated, modern mood, with seats with deeper recline in Economy, in seat cover shades of green and gray, and with more legroom in EconomyXtra, in shades of green and red.  The seat pitch in regular economy is 31 inches, while EconomyXtra offers an additional three inches of legroom, for a pitch of 34 inches.  The A330-900neo features 168 seats in Economy and 96 seats in EconomyXtra. In TAP’s Executive business class, TAP offers 34 new fully-flat reclining chairs that are more than six feet long when fully reclined. TAP’s business class seats include outlets for both USBs and individual electrical plugs, connections for headphones, individual reading lights, and more space – including more storage room.  TAP’s 10 North American gateways currently comprise Boston, Cancun, Chicago, Miami, Montreal, Newark, New York (JFK), San Francisco, Toronto, and Washington, DC (Dulles).   On December 11, TAP Air Portugal will also introduce its first Caribbean operations, with nonstop service between Lisbon and Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, TAP’s 11th North American gateway.

Just one in three Americans plans to travel for Christmas, and even fewer plan to travel for Thanksgiving.68% of Thanksgiving travelers plan to stay with family or friends, while 22% plan to stay in a hotel.66% of Christmas travelers plan to stay with family or friends, while 23% plan to stay in a hotel. While rising vaccination rates against COVID-19 have increased travelers’ comfort levels, most Americans are still opting to stay home this holiday season, according to a new national survey commissioned by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA). The survey found that 29% of Americans are likely to travel for Thanksgiving and 33% are likely to travel for Christmas—an increase from 21% and 24%, respectively, compared to 2020. Those who do plan to travel over the holidays expect to drive, but rising gas prices may dampen those plans.  The survey of 2,200 adults was conducted October 30 – November 1, 2021, by Morning Consult on behalf of AHLA. Key findings include the following: Just one in three Americans plans to travel for Christmas (33% likely to travel, 59% unlikely), and even fewer plan to travel for Thanksgiving (29% likely, 61% unlikely). 68% of Thanksgiving travelers plan to stay with family or friends, while 22% plan to stay in a hotel. 66% of Christmas travelers plan to stay with family or friends, while 23% plan to stay in a hotel. 52% of Americans say they plan to take fewer trips and 53% plan to take shorter trips due to rising gas prices. Leisure travelers are making several adjustments to their travel plans based on the current state of the pandemic, including only traveling within driving distance (58%), taking fewer trips (48%), and taking shorter trips (46%). Among parents with children under the age of 12, 41% say the availability of vaccines for kids ages 5-11 will make them more likely to travel. 68% of Thanksgiving travelers and 64% of Christmas travelers plan to drive, compared to 11% and 14%, respectively, who plan to fly. While vaccines have helped travelers feel more comfortable, rising gas prices and continued concerns about the pandemic are making many Americans hesitant to travel during the holidays. Despite a slight expected uptick in holiday travel this year, hotels will continue to face economic fallout from the pandemic, underscoring the need for targeted federal relief, such as the Save Hotel Jobs Act, to support the industry and its workforce until travel fully returns. Despite being among the hardest hit, hotels are the only segment of the hospitality and leisure industry yet to receive direct pandemic relief from Congress.  

Continued increase in passenger demand and flight capacity across the global network anticipated over the winter 2021 period.Qatar Airways reluctantly makes the decision to welcome the A380 fleet back into operation due to ongoing capacity shortage.The national carrier of the State of Qatar continues to rebuild its network, which currently stands at over 140 destinations. A Qatar Airways Airbus A380 took to the skies for the first time in more than 18 months earlier this week, positioning the aircraft from Doha International Airport (DIA) to Hamad International Airport (HIA) after the airline reluctantly took the decision to welcome the fleet back into operation due to ongoing capacity shortage. It is anticipated that at least five of the airline’s 10 Airbus A380 aircraft will be brought back into service on a temporary basis over the coming weeks to support fleet capacity on key winter routes, including London Heathrow (LHR) and Paris (CDG), from 15 December 2021. The national carrier for the State of Qatar is currently facing significant limitations to its fleet capacity as a result of the recent grounding of 19 of its Airbus A350 fleet due to an accelerated surface degradation condition impacting the surface of the aircraft below the paint, as mandated by the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA). The airline also recently re-introduced a number of its Airbus A330 fleet following a continued increase in capacity requirements due to the easing of travel restrictions and the upcoming peak winter holiday period, which are anticipated to see a return to pre-COVID levels. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “The recent grounding of 19 Qatar Airways A350 fleet has left us with no alternative but to temporarily bring some of our A380 fleet back on key winter routes. “These groundings are due to an ongoing issue relating to the accelerated degradation of the fuselage surface below the paint, which as yet remains an unresolved matter between Qatar Airways and the manufacturer for which the root cause is yet to be understood.

A lack of government support for aviation is evident, and greater investment is required.The UK’s push to get countries to join the ‘International Aviation Climate Ambition Coalition’ announced at COP26 is not enough.SAF will be a good stopgap for aviation to reduce emissions while long-term power options are considered.  Airlines and the wider aviation industry will struggle to meet ambitious carbon neutral targets alone. Governments must act by providing significant investment following COP26 to ensure meaningful action occurs. COP26 has put pressure on the aviation industry to reaffirm its commitment to reducing its environmental impact. A recent found that 45% of global respondents stated that the environment was the most important of the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors with respect to materiality. With environmental concerns becoming so important to consumers, the industry must act. Although many schemes, working groups, and announcements have been declared leading up to the COP26 conference, it will not be enough alone to reduce the industry’s emissions and create a meaningful change. A lack of government support for aviation is evident, and investment is required. Governments have supported other sectors’ quest to become more environmentally friendly. For instance, vehicle manufacturers have received widespread support and incentives to switch to electric vehicle production, but the aviation industry has not received the same attention or investment. Governments worldwide are pressing for larger carbon reduction targets. However, a lack of concrete plans as to how these will be achieved or the funding available is evident. The UK’s push to get countries to join the ‘International Aviation Climate Ambition Coalition’ announced at COP26 is not enough.

The planned December 5 rollout across C-band frequencies will be delayed until at least January 5.Verizon and AT&T are hoping to work with the FAA to address its concerns regarding potential interference with cockpit safety equipment.Air travel in the US has already been experiencing problems lately, with post-pandemic desire for flying running up against staff and pilot shortages. Verizon and AT&T‘s planned December 5 full 5G rollout, which offer “good-to-great speed” across the mid-range of the radio frequency spectrum, has been delayed after FAA warned that certain bandwidth expansion will severely interfere with bands used for providing commercial aircraft safety. Full rollout across C-band frequencies will be delayed until at least January 5, AT&T and Verizon announced. The companies are hoping to work with the Federal Aviation Administration to address its concerns regarding potential interference with cockpit safety equipment that also uses the C band. While the corporations doled out a combined $70 billion to gain access to the C-band in an auction earlier this year, the aviation industry has protested its use, arguing that “major disruptions to use of the National Airspace System can be expected” should the providers get dibs on that bandwidth for their 5G. The companies already have high-speed 5G connectivity in higher bands, where they use millimeter-wave technology, and low-band frequencies, which are noticeably slower. While they aren’t the only two companies rolling out 5G, their competitor T-Mobile has already snapped up a sizable chunk of mid-band spectrum that does not (yet) operate on C-band. The aircraft industry has apparently been trying to get phone companies’ attention for some time now, having held a meeting in August with the Federal Communications Commission to warn of the coming clash between the two areas. Unless something is done, they warned, ‘major disruptions’ could be expected, forcing the FAA to ‘drastically reduce aviation operational capacity.’ Having failed to convince others on the urgency of the matter, the FAA released a ‘special information bulletin’ earlier this week outlining 5G’s potential interference with airplane safety hardware that depends on access to radio altimeters. Until this week, the agency had planned to issue official mandates limiting the use of automated systems, including one that helps pilots fly and land in bad weather. The bans were designed to prevent any interference from 5G signals encroaching on their bandwidth, as 5G operators are expected to unleash their technology on December 5 across 46 markets. While acknowledging there had not been any issues of ‘harmful interference’ with 5G in other countries, pilots were warned they must be ‘prepared for the possibility that interference from 5G transmitters and other technology could cause certain safety equipment to malfunction,’ suggesting that being forced to fix the issues ‘could affect flight operations.’ Wireless trade group CTIA has insisted 5G networks could safely use the spectrum, pointing to 40 countries in which they were simultaneously operational with airline safety computers. US air travel has already been experiencing problems lately, with post-pandemic desire for flying running up against staff and pilot shortages. These shortages have been exacerbated by broadening vaccination mandates across the country.

Delta Air Lines has seen a 450% increase in international bookings versus the six weeks prior to US reopening announcement.Many international flights are expected to operate 100% full on Monday, November 8, with high passenger volume throughout the following weeks.The strong demand is reflected across both leisure and business travelers to popular destinations such as New York, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Boston and Orlando. In the six weeks since the U.S reopening was announced, Delta has seen a 450% increase in international point-of-sale bookings versus the six weeks prior to the announcement. Many international flights are expected to operate 100% full on Monday, November 8, with high passenger volume throughout the following weeks. The reopening positively impacts customers in 33 countries around the world, with Delta serving 10 of these nonstop and more via its global hubs in connection with its partners, including Air France, KLM and Virgin Atlantic. The strong demand is reflected across both leisure and business travelers to popular destinations such as New York, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Boston and Orlando. In total, the airline will operate 139 flights from 55 international destinations in 38 countries landing in the U.S. on November 8, offering more than 25,000 seats. “This is the start of a new era for travel and for many people around the world who have not been able to see loved ones for almost two years,” said Ed Bastian, Delta’s CEO. “While we have seen many countries reopen their borders to American visitors over the summer, our international customers have not been able to fly with us or visit the U.S. All of that changes now. We’re grateful to the U.S. government for lifting travel restrictions and are looking forward to reuniting families, friends and colleagues over the coming days and weeks.”  Flight DL106 from Sao Paulo to Atlanta will be Delta’s first international flight to touch down in the U.S. under the new rules on Monday at 09:35 with dozens more closely behind. As consumer confidence in travel returns, Delta Air Lines is increasing flights this winter from key European cities including London-Boston, Detroit and New York-JFK, Amsterdam-Boston, Dublin-New York-JFK, Frankfurt-New York-JFK and Munich-Atlanta. Atlanta, Delta’s hometown airport, remains its busiest international hub with 56 daily departures to 39 international destinations. It is followed by the most-visited U.S. city, New York-JFK, which has 28 daily departures to 21 international cities. The milestone reopening provides a boost to global economies while simultaneously marking the start of the recovery of Delta’s international business. The airline reported this summer that its U.S. domestic leisure business has already rebounded to 2019 levels, but ongoing border restrictions have prevented a meaningful recovery across the globe. International inbound travel to the U.S. contributed $234 billion in export income to the U.S. economy, generated a trade surplus of $51 billion and directly supported 1.2 million American jobs in 2019. Foreign nationals will be permitted to enter the U.S. with proof of vaccination and a negative COVID-19 test taken within three days of departure. Non-vaccinated foreign nationals may enter the U.S. only if they meet criteria for very limited exceptions and commit to post-arrival testing, quarantine and vaccination. Customers must also provide details to meet U.S. contact tracing requirements.  All customers 2 and older must wear a face covering throughout the journey, while Delta’s enhanced cleanliness measures also remain in place. These include regular cleaning and sanitizing of high-touch areas onboard aircraft and at airports, as well as electrostatic spraying of aircraft interiors with high-grade disinfectant to ensure no surface goes unnoticed. 

Germany has been a very strong market for Jamaica, with 23,000 visitors in 2019 before the pandemic.This will also aid in Jamaica’s mission to increase visitor arrivals from Europe, demonstrated by airline seat capacity between the UK and Jamaica now at 100% of what it was pre-COVID.Jamaica is open for business and is a safe destination with a COVID infection rate nearing zero on the Resilient Corridor. Jamaica Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, elated by the news of this additional route from Germany, stated that it will undoubtedly strengthen the island’s connection with the European market. “Jamaica was indeed very happy to welcome the inaugural flight from Eurowings yesterday evening. Germany has been a very strong market for us, with 23,000 visitors from their country coming to our shores in 2019 before the pandemic. I know that this figure will increase with nonstop flights now available from Eurowings and Condor,” said Bartlett. “This flight from Germany will also aid in our mission to increase visitor arrivals from Europe, which my team has been actively engaging with. In fact, airline seat capacity between the UK and Jamaica is at 100% of what it was pre-COVID. We want to assure our partners and future visitors to the island that Jamaica is open for business and is a safe destination with a COVID infection rate nearing zero on the Resilient Corridor,” he added. The Eurowings Discover aircraft, which had 211 passengers and crew, was greeted with a water cannon salute at the Sangster International Airport (SIA) upon arrival. The passengers were welcomed by Deputy Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Richard Vernon; German Ambassador to Jamaica, His Excellency Dr. Stefan Keil; Executive Director of Jamaica Vacations Ltd. Joy Roberts; and Regional Director at the Jamaica Tourist Board, Odette Dyer. The new service will fly twice weekly into Montego Bay, departing Wednesdays and Saturdays, and enhance access to the island from Europe. It is important to point out that Jamaica is looking at receiving 17 nonstop flights per week out of the United Kingdom. Additionally, Swiss leisure travel airline, Edelweiss, started new once-weekly flights into Jamaica while Condor Airlines restarted roughly twice-weekly flights between Frankfurt, Germany and Montego Bay in July. Eurowings is the Lufthansa Group’s low-cost airline and, as such, part of the world’s largest aviation group. They operate a fleet of 139 planes and specialize in low-cost direct flights across Europe.

U.S. travel industry will welcome all vaccinated international visitors back to the United States after 19 months of pandemic-related border restrictions beginning November 8.Reopening a ‘critical step in right direction,’ though additional federal resources needed to address visa processing backlog.In 2019, international inbound travel produced $239 billion in export income for the U.S. economy and directly supported 1.2 million American jobs. At air, land and sea ports of entry, and across destinations nationwide, the U.S. travel industry will welcome all vaccinated international visitors back to the United States after 19 months of pandemic-related border restrictions beginning Monday (November 8), a long-awaited milestone that marks the rebuilding of international inbound travel. This action is a key first step in the recovery of the highly lucrative international travel market. In 2019, international inbound travel produced $239 billion in export income for the U.S. economy and directly supported 1.2 million American jobs. After nearly two years of restrictions, Monday begins in earnest the return of international travel, when long-separated families and friends can safely reunite, travelers can explore this amazing country, and the U.S. is able to reconnect with the global community. It is a monumental day for travelers, for the communities and businesses that rely on international visitation, and for the U.S. economy overall. The countries affected by restricted travel—which included the United Kingdom, Ireland, the 26 Schengen Area countries, South Africa, Iran, Brazil, India and China—comprised just 17% of all countries worldwide but accounted for a disproportionate 53% of all overseas visitors to the United States in 2019. The land borders with Canada and Mexico—the top two inbound markets to the U.S.—were also closed.

New state-of-the-art missile and aircraft detection system will further increase Israel’s air defense capabilities.The Sky Dew will compliment existing Israeli land-based detection system by putting additional sensors at a high altitude.The system, jointly developed by Israel and the US, has undergone successful tests in recent months. Israel’s Defense Ministry announced that it is getting ready to launch a huge blimp that will carry a state-of-the-art air defense system. The ministry published a clip online on Wednesday, showing the giant balloon being inflated from different angles. [embedded content] According to the ministry, new state-of-the-art missile and aircraft detection system will further increase Israel’s air-defense capabilities. The exact specifications of the aircraft, which was dubbed ‘Sky Dew’, haven’t been announced, but it was described as one of the largest of its kind. Its radars are said to be able to detect incoming long-range missiles, cruise missiles and drones. The system, jointly developed by Israel and the US, has undergone successful tests in recent months and is planned to be put in service in the north of the country soon, according to the ministry. Sky Dew will complement existing Israeli land-based detection systems by putting additional sensors at a high altitude. Such elevated radars provide a significant technological and operational advantage for early and precise threat detection. Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz has hailed the blimp as “another technological breakthrough that will strengthen the defense of Israel’s skies and Israeli citizens.” The new system “fortifies the wall of defense that Israel has built in the face of the distant and imminent air threats being built by its enemies,” he said. Israel has been working hard to improve its air defenses in recent years due to concerns over the proliferation of Iranian-made drones and missiles in the Middle East region. The Jewish state is also frequently targeted by makeshift rockets and incendiary balloons, launched from Gaza by Palestinian terrorist group Hamas. The death toll on the Israeli side from the intense exchange of fire, during the flare-up between Israel and Hamas in May, stood at 12 people, including two children.

WestJet launched its newest international route connecting Calgary and Seattle for the first time.The departure of WS3612 carrying 69 guests marked WestJet’s first new international route departure under the Government of Canada’s new traveler and employee vaccination policies.  WestJet’s newest trans-border flight will operate four times weekly to begin and will increase to two-times daily by spring 2022. Today, WestJet, together with key government and industry partners, launched its newest route connecting guests for the first time between Calgary and Seattle. The departure of flight WS3612 marked a major recovery milestone for WestJet as the airline’s first trans-border inaugural since pre-pandemic.  “We are thrilled to foster direct connectivity between Calgary and Seattle for the first time on a route that our guests and both cities have long awaited,” said Chris Hedlin, WestJet, Vice-President, Network and Alliances. “This route will bolster economic ties between the regions and will stimulate Alberta’s visitor economy as we continue to strengthen our trans-border network from our global hub in Calgary.” The departure of WS3612 carrying 69 guests marked WestJet‘s first new international route departure under the Government of Canada’s new traveler and employee vaccination policies.   “Confidence in travel is growing as demonstrated by the demand for today’s flight and policies must evolve to support the fully-vaccinated travel ecosystem, “continued Hedlin. “Today is an important milestone in our commitment to restoring Canada’s visitor economy and we are optimistic that we will continue to see progress on the easement of border policies that are impacting our guest’s ability to travel between Canada and the U.S. as seamlessly by air, as they are by land.” WestJet’s newest trans-border flight will operate four times weekly to begin and will increase to two-times daily by spring 2022. Details of WestJet’s new service between Calgary and Seattle: RouteFrequencyStart dateCalgary – Seattle4x weeklyNovember 4, 20216x weeklyDecember 20, 20211x dailyMarch 28, 20222x dailyMay 19, 2022Seattle – Calgary4x weeklyNovember 4, 20216x weeklyDecember 20, 20211x dailyMarch 28, 20222x dailyMay 19, 2022

Porter Airlines’ seasonal service begins December 17 and will be running until March 28, 2022.Connecting flights are also available from various Porter Airlines’ Canadian locations.All passengers over the age of 12 years and four months departing from a Canadian airport must provide proof of vaccination before boarding, effective November30.  Porter Airlines is reintroducing its seasonal service to Mont-Tremblant, Que., in time for the holidays. Seasonal service begins December 17, running until March 28, 2022. “We’re ready to return to our first seasonal destination since restarting operations in September,” said Michael Deluce, president and CEO, Porter Airlines. “Mont-Tremblant was among Porter’s first destinations when the airline was founded, and our passengers enjoy the variety of winter activities it has to offer.” In as little as 70 minutes, passengers can fly from Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport to Mont-Tremblant International Airport. Connecting flights are also available from various Porter locations. The winter schedule includes up to four weekly flights. Following the Government of Canada’s vaccination mandate for air passengers, all passengers over the age of 12 years and four months departing from a Canadian airport must provide proof of vaccination before boarding, effective November 30.  Porter Airlines is a regional airline headquartered at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport on the Toronto Islands in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Owned by Porter Aviation Holdings, formerly known as REGCO Holdings Inc., Porter operates regularly scheduled flights between Toronto and locations in Canada and the United States using Canadian-built Bombardier Q400 turboprop aircraft.

France is expected to recover Travel and Tourism sector ahead of the UK and Europe.If vital measures are followed, Travel & Tourism sector could see employment numbers surpass pre-pandemic levels by 2022.In 2019, France’s Travel & Tourism sector’s contribution to GDP represented €211 billion (8.5% of the national economy). New research from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) reveals the France’s Travel & Tourism sector’s recovery could achieve a growth of 34.9% this year. The news comes on the day WTTC, which represents the global Travel & Tourism sector, its Members, and business leaders from around the world, head to Paris for the Destination France summit. Organized by President Emmanuel Macron and with an opening speech from WTTC Chairman and President & CEO of Carnival Corporation & plc, Arnold W. Donald, the event will focus on driving travelers back to the destination which before the pandemic, was the world’s most popular destination. WTTC says the sector’s growth this year is set to soar ahead of Europe’s overall recovery at 23.9%, and the global recovery at 30.7%. In 2019, France’s Travel & Tourism sector’s contribution to GDP represented €211 billion (8.5% of the national economy). In 2020, when the pandemic brought international travel to a grinding halt, the contribution of the Travel & Tourism sector fell to just €108 billion (4.7% of the national economy). However, according to the latest research, at the current rate of recovery, France’s Travel & Tourism sector can expect a year on year growth of almost 35%, representing an increase of €38 billion. The data also reveals that the country could see a year on year increase of 21.8% in 2022, contributing a further boost to the economy of €32 billion. The global tourism body says that whilst a rise in domestic travel has provided some relief to the nation, it is not enough to achieve the full recovery needed to salvage its economy and the millions of jobs lost due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, convened a full committee hearing.It was titled “Implementation of Aviation Safety Reform.”It examined the urgency of implementing aviation safety, certification and oversight reforms mandated by the Aircraft, Certification, Safety and Accountability Act (ACSAA) of 2020. Senators discussed the approach of the FAA to effectuating ACSAA and its work to implement provisions of the legislation in accordance with congressionally mandated timelines. For three hours, Dickson discussed topics such as the FAA’s delegation and certification processes, safety culture and systems oversight practices since the passage of ACSAA as well as the impact of COVID on current aviation schedules. Several family members were able to attend the Senate hearing today either in person or via the internet.  Michael Stumo of Massachusetts, who lost his daughter Samya Rose Stumo, 24, in the crash, applauded Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) for asking when the FAA will stop trusting Boeing with regulating themselves. Dickson said the FAA is now retaining some regulatory functions, but Stumo pointed out that means the manufacturer continues to regulate itself on many levels.  Stumo added, “The manufacturer will not change until its self-regulation authority is pulled.  Boeing must then re-prove it is competent and trustworthy.” Nadia Milleron of Massachusetts, who lost her daughter Samya Rose Stumo, age 24, in the crash, approached Dickson after the hearing and said, “Don’t let Boeing sell planes unless required pilot training is in place for that particular plane.”  His response was that he would look into it.  One of the major issues regarding the crashes of the Boeing 737 MAX was that initially Boeing executives blamed the pilots; however, the planes were allowed to be certified with a new software system on which pilots were not initially trained nor was the new software system included in the plane’s manual.  Stumo and Milleron personally attended today’s hearing. Ike Riffel who lost both of his sons in the Boeing crash in Ethiopia said, “Boeing did not only defraud the FAA, they defrauded the flying public and the entire world and their actions resulted in the deaths of 346 people. Our FAA will never be the ‘gold standard” of aviation safety as long as fraud and deceit are allowed to go unpunished.” Chris Moore of Toronto, Canada, father of 24-year-old Danielle Moore who was killed in the Boeing crash in Ethiopia, has been very vocal on aviation safety issues.  Hewas upset that over half of today’s hearing was related to non-Boeing 737Max issues and said, “The Senate should have called this hearing, ‘Hey Dickson, What Up?’ Senators need to take this aspect of safety seriously – they can have a separate discussion about other matters at another hearing.” Families and friends who lost loved ones in the crash of a Boeing 737 MAX jet in 2019 continue to ask Congress and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to terminate the aircraft maker’s ability to certify its own airplanes, a provision allowed in a program called the Organization Designation Authority (ODA) that allows third parties to perform functions of the FAA. Hundreds of family and friends who lost loved ones on Boeing 737 MAX aircraft petitioned DOT officials, including Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Dickson to withdraw Boeing’s ability to certify its aircraft because “it has become clear that Boeing is not a company that can be trusted with the public safety responsibilities conferred by the ODA,” according to their petition to the DOT dated Oct. 19, 2021.  The petition cites 15 reasons why Boeing misconduct requires the FAA to terminate Boeing’s ODA including the company’s “deceiving the FAA” about the methods the MAX aircraft operated “by way of misleading statements, half-truths and omissions,” creating “an ODA culture that applies undue pressure to engineering personnel so they are not able to exercise independent judgment free from organizational conflicts of interest,” and “failing to insulate the ODA from Boeing’s profit motives.” On another front, Mark Forkner, former chief pilot of the new Boeing aircraft, is set to stand trial in Forth Worth, Texas federal district court on a six-count indictment for his actions involving the 737 MAX, including lying during the certification process of the new aircraft.  He pled not guilty in federal court in Texas Oct. 15, 2021. His trial is set for Dec. 15 in Forth Worth federal court. Tomra Vocere of Massachusetts who lost her brother Matt in the crash, said, “Mr. Forkner did not act alone in the engineering snafu that killed 346 people and should not be the only indictment in this mass casualty.  The offering of a mid-level employee is an insult to anyone who lost a family member on Boeing’s planes.  The unfolding of the investigations, litigation, congressional hearings, and panels produces nothing:  no transparency, no accountability, no admission of guilt or systemic culture change at Boeing or the FAA.  Mr. Forkner is a sorry scapegoat as there is no atonement in Boeing’s offering: no executives, no board members, no justice.”

Belarusian An-12 Soviet-era turboprop cargo plane crashes and burns in Siberia, Russia.The An-12 is a Soviet-era turboprop plane produced between 1957 and 1973, primarily for the armed forces of the USSR.The incident marks the latest in a series of air disasters in Siberia and the Russian Far East. According to Russian officials in Moscow, at least seven people were on board Antonov An-12 cargo plane that crashed in Siberia, near the city of Irkutsk. The plane apparently belong to Belarusian ‘Grodno’ airline and was performing a cargo flight over Siberia, Russia. “At 2:50pm Moscow time, the An-12 aircraft, flying between Yakutsk and Irkutsk, disappeared from the radar,” Russian official said.  “Initially, two people have been killed and the fate of a further five people is still unknown.” According to preliminary reports, the crash site has been found in the area of the village of Pivovarikha (in Irkutsk region), not far from the airfield. The plane went into a second circle during landing and then disappeared from the radar. According to the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations, when the fire and rescue units arrived at the scene, the he aircraft was on fire, but emergency services had managed to extinguish the blaze. More than 100 people and 50 vehicles are said to be on the site and aiding in the recovery operation. The governor of Irkutsk Oblast confirmed that all those aboard had died, and no survivors had been found among the wreckage. The An-12 is a Soviet-era turboprop plane produced between 1957 and 1973, primarily for the armed forces of the USSR. It has since been operated by a number of civilian airlines in the former Soviet Union, primarily for freight flights. In 2019, an An-12 crashed close to Lviv airport in Western Ukraine, killing five and injuring a further three people. The incident marks the latest in a series of air disasters in Siberia and the Russian Far East. In July, emergency workers investigating the disappearance of an Antonov An-26 turboprop plane announced that they had recovered the bodies of 22 passengers and six crew after it crashed into a cliff on the Kamchatka peninsula.

Total demand for air travel in September 2021 (measured in revenue passenger kilometers or RPKs) was down 53.4% compared to September 2019. This marked an uptick from August, when demand was 56.0% below August 2019 levels.Domestic markets were down 24.3% compared to September 2019, a significant improvement from August 2021, when traffic was down 32.6% versus two years ago. All markets showed improvement with the exception of Japan and Russia, although the latter remained in solid growth territory compared to 2019. International passenger demand in September was 69.2% below September 2019, fractionally worse than the 68.7% decline recorded in August.  The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced a moderate rebound in air travel in September 2021 compared to August’s performance. This was driven by recovery in domestic markets, in particular China, where some travel curbs were lifted following the COVID-19 outbreaks in August. International demand, meanwhile, slipped slightly compared to the previous month.  Because comparisons between 2021 and 2020 monthly results are distorted by the extraordinary impact of COVID-19, unless otherwise noted all comparisons are to September 2019, which followed a normal demand pattern. Total demand for air travel in September 2021 (measured in revenue passenger kilometers or RPKs) was down 53.4% compared to September 2019. This marked an uptick from August, when demand was 56.0% below August 2019 levels.   Domestic markets were down 24.3% compared to September 2019, a significant improvement from August 2021, when traffic was down 32.6% versus two years ago. All markets showed improvement with the exception of Japan and Russia, although the latter remained in solid growth territory compared to 2019. International passenger demand in September was 69.2% below September 2019, fractionally worse than the 68.7% decline recorded in August.  “September’s performance is a positive development but recovery in international traffic remains stalled amid continuing border closures and quarantine mandates. The recent US policy change to reopen travel from 33 markets for fully vaccinated foreigners from 8 November is a welcome, if long overdue, development. Along with recent re-openings in other key markets like Australia, Argentina, Thailand, and Singapore this should give a boost to the large-scale restoration of the freedom to travel,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.  International Passenger Markets European carriers’ September international traffic declined 56.9% versus September 2019, down 1 percentage point compared to the 55.9% decrease in August versus the same month in 2019. Capacity dropped 46.3% and load factor fell 17.2 percentage points to 69.6%. Asia-Pacific airlines saw their September international traffic fall 93.2% compared to September 2019, virtually unchanged from the 93.4% drop registered in August 2021 versus August 2019 as the region continues to have the strictest border control measures. Capacity dropped 85.2% and the load factor was down 42.3 percentage points to 36.2%, easily the lowest among regions. Middle Eastern airlines had a 67.1% demand drop in September compared to September 2019, slightly improved over the 68.9% decrease in August, versus the same month in 2019. Capacity declined 52.6%, and load factor slipped 23.1 percentage points to 52.2%.  North American carriers experienced a 61.0% traffic drop in September versus the 2019 period, somewhat improved on the 59.3% decline in August compared to August 2019. Capacity dropped 47.6%, and load factor fell 21.3 percentage points to 61.9%. Latin American airlines saw a 61.3% drop in September traffic, compared to the same month in 2019, an upturn over the 62.6% decline in August compared to August 2019. September capacity fell 55.6% and load factor dropped 10.7 percentage points to 72.0%, which was the highest load factor among the regions for the 12th consecutive month.  African airlines’ traffic fell 62.2% in September versus two years’ ago, almost 4 percentage points worse than the 58.5% decline in August compared to August 2019. September capacity was down 49.3% and load factor declined 18.4 percentage points to 53.7%. Domestic Passenger Markets September 2021 (% chg vs the same month in 2019)World shareRPKASKPLF (%-pt)PLF (level)Domestic54.2%-24.3%-14.7%-9.3%73.0%Australia0.7%-80.3%-71.2%-26.2%56.2%Brazil1.6%-17.3%-16.8%-0.5%81.2%China P.R.19.9%-26.2%-10.5%-14.6%68.9%India2.1%-41.3%-30.5%-13.4%72.4%Japan1.4%-65.5%-34.5%-36.7%40.9%Russian Fed.3.4%29.3%33.3%-2.6%83.1%US16.6%-12.8%-5.5%-6.5%76.1% Brazil’s domestic market sustained its gradual recovery amid positive vaccination progress. Traffic was down 17.3% compared to September 2019 – improved from a 20.7% fall in August.  Japan’s September domestic traffic was down 65.5%, worsened from a 59.2% decline in August versus August 2019, owing to the impact of restrictions. The Bottom Line “Each re-opening announcement seems to come with similar but different rules. We cannot let the recovery get bogged down in complication. The ICAO High Level Conference on COVID-19 agreed that harmonization should be a priority. The G20 declared a commitment to take action to support a recovery with seamless travel, sustainability, and digitalization. Now governments must put actions behind these words to realize simple and effective measures. People, jobs, businesses and economies are counting on real progress,” said Walsh. IATA’s vision for safely re-establishing global connectivity is based on five key principles: Vaccines should be available to all as quickly as possible.Vaccinated travelers should not face any barriers to travel.Testing should enable those without access to vaccines to travel without quarantine.Antigen tests are the key to cost-effective and convenient testing regimes.Governments should pay for testing, so it does not become an economic barrier to travel.

Grenada welcomes the return of air service from Canada for the first time in a year. In 2019, Grenada welcomed a total of 17,911 Canadian visitors.Travelbrands is a Canadian owned and operated “super distribution” network comprised of five retail/online travel agency brands and 10 tour operator wholesale brands.  On Sunday, 31 October, Grenada welcomed the return of air service from Canada for the first time in a year. Air Canada flight 1066, a Boeing 737 Max 8, touched down at 2:55 PM. Captain John Petropoulos and 169 passengers were warmly greeted by Grenada Tourism Authority (GTA) CEO Petra Roach, Marketing Executives Renee Goodwin and Shanai St Bernard and the pulsating rhythms steel pan music. The pilot and crew were presented with a beautiful coffee table book, Grenada Heritage “A Pictorial Journey Through Place and Time” and a selection of locally made chocolates. Passengers were gifted tote bags that included a collection of authentic Grenadian goods. To stimulate demand for the twice weekly flights from Toronto, on Sundays and Wednesdays, the GTA has embarked on an aggressive marketing campaign employing traditional, digital, and social media tactics in the Canadian market with Air Canada and the travel syndicate, TravelBrands. The Air Canada campaign will include, but is not limited to, digital activations on their Facebook page and the Weather Network as well as a credit of 5,000 Aeroplan miles for each passenger booking the destination during the three-week campaign. Travelbrands is a Canadian owned and operated “super distribution” network comprised of five retail/online travel agency brands and 10 tour operator wholesale brands. Sunquest, Exotik Tours, Holiday House, and other brands such as FunSun Vacations, Boomerang Tours, RedTag.ca and ALBATours all exist under one umbrella, making TravelBrands a powerhouse in the Canadian travel industry. Their campaign will include a two-week homepage takeover of Redtag.ca, Deal Alert push notifications, banner ads and video posts. Travel agents who book vacations to Grenada will receive 5 times the regular loyalty points for the duration of the campaign. GTA CEO, Petra Roach commented, “Canadians are eager to travel and we anticipate that there will be a surge in international trips during the winter period, particularly to warm weather destinations. We therefore need to be visible in the marketplace to take advantage of this pent-up demand and position Grenada as the ideal destination for Canadians seeking an escape from frigid temperatures to holiday in an authentic destination.” In 2019, Grenada welcomed a total of 17,911 Canadians.

Emirates has shared strong ties with Seychelles since 2005 and the island nation remains a very important market for the airline.The agreement just signed outlines mutually beneficial activities to boost trade and tourism to the country.This includes trade shows, trade familiarization trips, exhibitions, and workshops.   The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Ahmed Khoory, Emirates’ SVP Commercial West Asia & Indian Ocean, and Sherin Francis, Principal Secretary for Tourism, Tourism Seychelles. The agreement was signed in the presence of H.E. Mr. Sylvestre Radegonde, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism and Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Chief Commercial Officer. The ceremony was also attended by Emirates executives: Orhan Abbas, SVP Commercial Operations Far East; Abdulla Al Olama, Regional Manager Commercial Operations Far East, West Asia & Indian Ocean; Oomar Ramtoola, Manager Indian Ocean Islands; Silvy Sebastian, Business Analysis Manager West Asia & Indian Ocean and Bernadette Willemin, Director General for Destination Marketing at Tourism Seychelles; and Noor Al Geziry, representative of Tourism Seychelles in the Middle East Office. Ahmed Khoory, SVP Commercial West Asia & Indian Ocean at Emirates, said: “Emirates has shared strong ties with Seychelles since 2005 and the island nation remains a very important market for us. The agreement signed today is a strong testament to our commitment and support to the island-nation. We thank our partners for their ongoing support, and we look forward to continue growing our successful partnership.” On his part, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Mr. Sylvestre Radegonde said: “Emirates airline has been constant and steadfast with their support towards Seychelles and we are indeed grateful for that. Therefore, we would like to express our support for the coming year with the hope that it will be a better year for both Seychelles and the airline.” The agreement outlines mutually beneficial activities to boost trade and tourism to the country, including trade shows, trade familiarization trips, exhibitions, and workshops.   Emirates launched operations to Seychelles in 2005 and the airline currently operates daily flights to the island-nation, utilizing its wide-body Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. Emirates was the first international airline to resume passenger services to Seychelles in August 2020, coinciding with the country’s re-opening to international tourists. Since January 2021, Emirates has carried close to 43,500 passengers to the island-nation, from more than 90 destinations, including top markets, United Arab Emirates, Germany, France, Poland, Switzerland, Austria, Spain, Russia, Belgium and the United States of America.