A4A has joined with IATA to communicate the environmental and sustainable efforts initiated by commercial aviation and explain why flying is a responsible transport choice. Airlines are coming under pressure as global concerns grow about carbon emissions and climate change. In the past 6 months, a flygskam, or “flight shame,” movement has gained traction. A4A president and CE Nick Calio said :“We are seeing a new narrative emerging, especially in Europe, where people are calling out people for flying. It’s called shaming. And in countries like Belgium, the Netherlands and Sweden, they are talking about taxes on aviation … this ignores the very good story of this industry,” Calio said. “More must be done to tell that good story, but a lot more needs to be done beyond." <br/>
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Budweis International, located in the South Bohemian region of the Czech Republic, has opened its terminal as part of an audit-and-test phase that will lead to flight operations starting in spring 2020. Budweis head of airline marketing and aviation development Dieter Pammer confirmed the 2020 schedule, but said the airport was not yet revealing its first airlines. The new airport is the Czech Republic’s sixth international airport. Budweis is located on a former air force base that was rededicated as a civil airport in 2008 and has since handled general aviation services and special flights. The 5,000 sq m terminal was constructed in 18 months and is being billed as low cost, with landing fees that will be up to 40% lower than airports in Austria or Germany, Pammer said. <br/>
The govts of Singapore and Maldives signed an Open Skies agreement July 1 to expand connectivity between two countries. The agreement enables airlines from Singapore and Maldives to operate as many passenger flights or cargo services between both countries, and—using fifth freedom rights—to a third country. Currently, only airlines in the SIA Group fly 20X-weekly service, about 4,000 seats, to the Maldives' capital of Malé. However, the group’s LCC Scoot announced in April that it will suspend services to the city because of weak demand and an aircraft shortage as a result of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 grounding. Maldivian, the island’s national carrier, has a single Airbus A321 and A320, but currently has no scheduled connections to Southeast Asia. <br/>