Global airline passenger traffic growth slowed to an 8-month low of 5.5% year-over-year in September, down from 6.4% the previous month, according to IATA’s Air Passenger Market Analysis. While the September rate was in line with the 10-year average, it fell short of the 6.7% year-to-date growth rate. The slowdown was “likely owing to the anticipated reduced demand boost from lower airfares due to rising airline cost pressures,” IATA DG and CE Alexandre de Juniac said, adding that “heightened uncertainty about trade policies and mounting protectionist policies may also be having an impact.” The slowdown in traffic growth also reflects disruptions caused by hurricane and typhoon activity, particularly in Japan. However, even when accounting for that impact, the seasonally adjusted rate of growth slowed over Q3. <br/>
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An Airbus A330-800 test aircraft completed its maiden flight Nov 6 from Toulouse-Blagnac Airport over southwestern France, which lasted 4 hrs. and 4 min. The aircraft, MSN 1888, is an A330neo powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines. According to Airbus, the A330-800’s development program will include around 300 flight-test hours, paving the way for certification in 2019. Its sibling, the larger A330-900 family member, recently completed its development testing and certification program. Kuwait Airways, which placed a firm order for 8 of the type, will be the first carrier to operate the latest A330 variant. Airbus said it has 224 A330neo firm orders from 14 customers. <br/>
Airlines, including those operating in the UAE and the rest of the Gulf, have been reminded not to collect aviation charges from travelling overseas Filipino workers. The Philippines’ top labour official, Department of Labour and Employment secretary Silvestre Bello III said Monday that despite earlier requests, airlines continue to collect terminal fees and travel taxes from Filipino expatriates. He also reiterated to the carriers and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines to refund the travel taxes and terminal fees collected from expatriates in the last 3 years. Last year, Bello III ordered several carriers including Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways, Cathay Pacific, SIA, Gulf Air and Saudia Airlines, among many others, to stop incorporating the cost of travel tax and airport fees in their tickets issued to Filipinos working abroad. <br/>
Only 3 of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) nations have signed up for the voluntary CORSIA global aviation carbon offsetting scheme that begins in 2020, although IATA says there is no particular reason why they are holding off. The CORSIA scheme was agreed through ICAO in 2016. As part of that, all airlines must begin reporting their emissions from Jan 1, 2019. In addition, a voluntary phase starts in 2020 in which airlines of those countries that participate in that phase will begin paying their carbon offsets via the global scheme. About 75 govts, accounting for some 76% of global commercial aviation activity, have committed to this voluntary start. However, only 3 MENA govts—the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar—have committed to the voluntary part of the scheme, IATA says. <br/>