United Airlines just got a bundle of cash to help reduce diesel emissions at Chicago O’Hare International, the carrier’s largest hub. The Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) said Monday it is handing over US$640,000 to United to help the carrier purchase 26 pieces of new ground support equipment that will replace older diesel-fuelled equipment. Total cost of the equipment purchases is expected to be $1.43m. The CDA got the monies it is awarding to United via Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) grant funding from the US Environmental Protection Agency. When all of the new equipment is in place and functioning, United estimates it will save a total of more than 1.4m gallons of diesel fuel annually and reduce emissions of carbon dioxide by more than 16,000 tons annually. <br/>
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Lufthansa and United Airlines hope the use of a new digital services platform (DSP) will help to enhance customer experiences as Star Alliance takes its first steps to enhance its digital and mobile services. Working in conjunction with global professional services company Accenture, the platform is part of the Alliance’s strategy to further improve the customer journey. The DSP will gather data provided by an individual member airline or third-party source and make it available to all members, enabling them to build it into their own customer-facing digital applications. The longer-term aim is to allow customers to use any member airline’s website or mobile application to obtain all the information they need for travel on several Star Alliance member airlines. <br/>
Turkish Airlines recorded its highest load factor in January, which improved by 7.3 points to 79.8% with an increase of 17% in available seat kilometre. The international LF increased by 7.5 points to 78.6%. Domestic and International flights have reached the highest January LF of Turkish Airlines history. Double digit growth in demand (revenue per kilometre) that commenced in July 2017, kept on with 29% demand growth in Jan 2018. Total number of passengers carried went up by 37% reaching 5.7m passengers. Excluding international-to-international transfer passengers (transit passengers); number of international passengers went up by 45%. In January, Load Factor increased for all regions. North America, Middle East, Central America, South America and Africa showed visible growth among other regions . <br/>
Air India will retain its name even after the govt divests it stake in the airline. It is reliably learnt that retaining the name is one of the conditions that the govt will lay down for prospective bidders. As part of the disinvestment process, the govt is considering divesting between 51% and 76% stake in the airline, sources indicated. Despite divesting over half its stake in the airline, the govt will ensure that the new owner will be able to make use of Indian air services bilateral rights as the govt will lay down that Substantial Ownership and Effective Control of AI remains in Indian hands and on Indian shores. A clearer picture on the roadmap for divesting Air India will emerge in the next few days when the Expression of Interest for prospective bidders is released. <br/>