Global airlines have committed to reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050, an ambitious challenge for the heavily polluting industry as it begins to recover from the crisis caused by Covid-19. The target was agreed by members of the International Air Transport Association on Monday, and came as the industry faced growing pressure to take new action to cut its emissions. Aviation, which accounts for roughly 2% of global emissions, is one of the most difficult industries to decarbonise, and Iata admitted the target was a significant challenge. “Decarbonising the airline industry is a real challenge because we don’t have a clear solution in the short term,” said Iata director-general Willie Walsh. “But we do believe very strongly . . . there is a credible path to net zero.” The industry’s road map relies on 65% of emission reductions coming from sustainable aviation fuel, which is significantly less polluting than traditional jet kerosene, but currently in very short supply. Sebastian Mikosz, IATA's senior vice-president for the environment, said the industry needed 450bn litres annually of sustainable fuel, but only 100m litres was currently available. The target volume of 450b litres is equivalent to about 7.8m barrels a day of demand. World jet fuel and kerosene demand was 7.9m b/d before the pandemic in 2019, according to the International Energy Agency. The plan also includes future and unproven new technologies, including electric and hydrogen aircraft. Any remaining emissions could be mopped up by carbon capture or offsetting, IATA said. In a sign of concern that governments could take action including environmental taxes if airlines did not decarbonise faster, Walsh urged countries to help carriers achieve net zero emissions, rather than punish them for flying. “Limiting flying with retrograde and punitive taxes would stifle investment and could limit flying to the wealthy. And we have never seen an environment tax actually fund carbon-reducing activities,” said the former BA boss. He added that the aircraft makers Boeing and Airbus were “not doing enough” to develop new technology to reduce emissions, and that any carrier that did not commit to reducing its carbon footprint “will be measured by consumers”. <br/>
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Global airlines will lose an estimated $51.8b in 2021 and another $11.6b in 2022 in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to an industry forecast released Monday. The projections by trade group the IATA show a deeper fall than the prior forecast in April for losses of $47.7b this year. IATA also increased the estimate for 2020 losses to $137.7b from $126.4b. While the shortfall for airlines is "enormous," IATA DG Willie Walsh said "we are well past the deepest part of the crisis." Walsh said airlines had cut costs and taken advantage of increased demand for air freight. "While serious issues remain, the path to recovery is coming into view," Walsh said. "Aviation is demonstrating its resilience yet again."<br/>
IATA DG Willie Walsh has criticised the airline industry’s “so-called partners” for planning to increase charges during the recovery from the Covid-19 crisis. “Some airports and ANSPs are seeking a solution to shore-up their finances by recovering ‘lost revenue’ from their airline customers,” he said during the IATA AGM meeting in Boston. “You heard that correctly. Some of our so-called partners want to increase charges to recover the money that airlines could not spend with them during the crisis.” Walsh cites examples of air-navigation service providers (ANSPs) that he claims are planning to increase their charges in the range of 30-40%, including NavCanada and those in Ethiopia and Europe. Regarding airports, he notes a “spate of large increases” in the USA, and further highlights Airports Company South Africa, Amsterdam Schiphol airport and London Heathrow airport as suppliers that he says are planning to raise charges. He accuses those companies and others of “abusing their position”, saying that the airline industry “will fight back” against such moves.<br/>
The FAA said Monday it had urged US airports to limit the use of firefighting foam with the chemical PFAS due to the environmental and public health risks as it evaluates possible alternatives. PFAS, nicknamed “forever chemicals” because they do not break down easily, have been associated with various illnesses including kidney cancer. They have been used for decades in household products such as nonstick cookware, stain- and water-resistant textiles, rugs, food packaging, photo imaging, and in industrial products. Many states have already outlawed their use in food packaging. The FAA said more than 400 research tests have been completed which evaluated 15 fluorine-free firefighting foam products. The FAA said it “expects a replacement product to be identified and eventually adopted.” The FAA and Defense Department have been researching alternatives to extinguish a fuel fire or other emergencies.<br/>
Indonesia will reopen its tourist island Bali for some international travellers, including those from China, New Zealand, and Japan, among others, from Oct. 14, senior cabinet minister Luhut Pandjaitan said Monday. Bali's Ngurah Rai international airport will be open to foreign tourists from that date, with visitors required to quarantine for eight days at their own expense, Luhut said. The country's reopening and easing of social restrictions is being conducted in stages, he said, because Indonesia "doesn't want the unexpected to happen". Indonesia has been among the countries worst hit by COVID-19 in Asia, officially recording more than 4m cases and 142,000 deaths, although public health experts believe the true toll is far higher. However, daily cases have plummeted from more than 56,000 at the peak of the second wave in mid-July this year to 1,100 cases on Oct. 3. Health minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin had previously flagged reopening the popular resort island, saying foreign tourists could return after more than 70% of people on Bali had received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine. The government has also signaled its willingness to reopen the island to international tourists to help revive Bali's battered economy.<br/>
After a long, golden sunset of being installed on fewer and fewer aircraft, the retirement of older aircraft caused by the Covid-19 pandemic means that when air travel resumes, international first class will be very nearly a thing of the past. Its replacement is a new generation of superbusiness minisuites, more spacious than regular business class, and with a privacy door to create your own space, but without the over-the-top luxury of first class. Fewer $600 bottles of Champagne, but tickets at business class prices. So what is superbusiness? At its core it's a top-notch business class seat that goes fully flat like a bed, without any neighbors to climb over, with an improved business class service and, most crucially, with closing privacy doors that give you a minisuite experience. "The rapid design evolution of the minisuite shows just how serious airlines are about delivering a better sleep with enhanced privacy, better work spaces and more stowage," explains Daniel Baron, managing director of Lift Aero Design, a Tokyo-based studio that works with airlines and seatmakers to create cabins. Baron highlights that these superbusiness minisuites "matter to an airline because a tangible raising of the bar is typically associated with increased revenue, loyalty or both. Even if competitors react by taking the plunge for a similar product, the market disrupter might have around two years of competitive advantage due to lead time for development and installation."<br/>
Embraer’s urban air mobility unit Eve has clinched a 100-aircraft order from Brazilian aircraft sharing firm Aviation Management Services (Avantto), with deliveries expected to start in 2026. The order for Eve’s electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft is part of a wider partnership between both companies to develop UAM capabilities in Latin America. Eve and Avantto, an existing operator of Embraer’s Executive Jets, will also work to build up eVTOL operations in Brazil and acros Latin America, to create “a safe and scalable environment” for expansion of operations. Says Eve: “These efforts will focus on critical aspects of the passenger experience in order to design for all users, including how to maximise accessibility and inclusiveness in vertiports and eVTOL boarding operations.” Avantto is the second Brazilian operator to commit to Eve’s eVTOL aircraft — in June, helicopter operator Helisul signed for 50 examples. <br/>