general

The head of global airlines’ biggest trade group implored oil producers to make more low-emissions aviation fuel, warning the future of commercial air travel depends on the industry’s successful decarbonization. Sustainable aviation fuel is the best available tool for cutting emissions, International Air Transport Association Director General Willie Walsh said at an aviation summit in Singapore Monday. Demand for the cleaner-burning fuel far outstrips supply, even though it can cost three to five times more than conventional jet fuel. “Every bit of fuel that gets produced would be used because this is an existential issue,” Walsh said. “This industry will not be allowed to grow unless we can prove to our customers, regulators, governments, people in general, that we can grow in a sustainable manner.” After surviving the pandemic, airlines’ biggest challenge is reaching a goal to have net zero carbon emissions by 2050. While the sector currently accounts for a relatively small portion of global emissions, it faces huge challenges to decarbonize and could see its share balloon in coming decades if its rate of progress falls behind other industries. An estimated $5t of capital investment may be needed to make the transition, much of it to build sustainable fuel refineries. Walsh also warned that hydrogen won’t be a viable alternative form of propulsion any time soon, underscoring the importance of increasing production of sustainable aviation fuel.<br/>

Cities around the world from Bangkok to Detroit are fading from international flight networks as the post-Covid travel boom funnels traffic into more traditional hubs. Across Southeast Asia, pre-pandemic links with Europe have all but vanished as Philippine Airlines Inc., Garuda Indonesia and Thai Airways International Pcl cut flights. Manila and Jakarta, for example, have no direct services to London anymore, Kuala Lumpur has lost access to Frankfurt, and the Bangkok-Rome connection has evaporated, according to February schedules from aviation data provider Cirium. Only Singapore, host to a major air show that kicks off Tuesday, is better connected. The services that have survived to key European destinations are almost all operating less frequently. It’s a similar picture in America, where residents in Detroit or even the capital Washington find themselves with fewer pathways to Europe. In Florida, Fort Lauderdale had more than 50 direct flights a month to London and Paris five years ago, most of them operated by Marabu Airlines and Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA. Now the city has none, the Cirium data show. The disappearing connections for hundreds of millions of people belie the broader recovery in air travel since the pandemic. The holes in the route network reflect systemic challenges facing the industry: Airlines can’t get their hands on enough new aircraft or spare parts to meet passenger demand. At the same time, rising costs are squeezing carriers’ margins, forcing them to scrap routes that were economically viable before Covid.<br/>

Heathrow Airport aims to have high-tech security scanners in all terminals by summer, allowing passengers to carry liquids of more than 100ml in hand luggage. Airports were originally told to bring in the scanners by 2022 before the deadline was moved to June this year. The scanners exist in Terminals 2, 3 and 5, with forthcoming additions to Terminal 4. But the airport said it had 146 security lanes to replace in total. In December 2022 the Department for Transport (DfT) announced the deadline for the new scanners it said would both improve security and convenience for people travelling by ending the need for "tiny toiletries". The current rules were introduced in 2006 after a plot to bomb several transatlantic flights using explosive liquids was foiled. A DfT spokesman said: "We are in regular contact with airports as they move towards June 2024 deadline for upgrading their screening equipment and processes." Trials for the new scanners in the UK began in 2018 and airports have been gradually putting them in place. Last April, London City Airport finished the roll-out, which means travellers can now carry on up to two litres of liquid and toiletries no longer have to be put in separate plastic bags. It is understood the DfT will consider allowing airports slightly longer to put the scanners across their entire concourse or terminal to ensure the new screening arrangements operate effectively.<br/>

London Southend Airport has agreed a debt overhaul with creditors Carlyle Group and Cyrus Capital Partners, which are set to take over the company in exchange for providing fresh financing. Under the proposal, the investment firms would provide as much as GBP32m in new funding, the airport said in a statement on Monday. Esken Ltd., Southend’s current owner, is still reviewing the proposal and would keep a minority stake should the transaction proceed, the aviation group said separately. The plan’s acceptance would end a dispute over a potential default on a GBP194m convertible loan that Carlyle’s infrastructure unit extended to Southend in 2021. Carlyle was demanding an early repayment, claiming that the airport has breached the financing terms. Esken said earlier this month there was “no default or event of default.” Esken has until March 4 to decide whether to agree to the plan or to contest it, the company said. Southend, which has struggled to bounce back following the pandemic, will ask the courts for the proposal to proceed if its main shareholder fails to offer its consent, Esken said.<br/>

Continued supply chain issues affecting the delivery of new aircraft and maintenance upkeep times for the existing fleet is one of the biggest potential risks to expected growth this year among Asia-Pacific airlines. Association of Asia-Pacific Airlines (AAPA) director general Subhas Menon says carriers in the region are expected to contribute around half the global industry’s traffic growth this year, as they continue building back after a relatively late re-opening from Covid travel restrictions. Preliminary data for 2023 from AAPA shows international passenger numbers for carriers in the region jumped from 107m in 2022 to almost 279m – an increase of around 160%. ”On average in 2023, in terms of demand, we were back to 72% [of 2019 levels] overall,” Menon tells FlightGlobal. ”In December it was 80%. It [the traffic recovery] would have been stronger if supply chain issues had not hampered the timely delivery of aircraft and spares, and parts. It is an ongoing issue, not only in the Asia-Pacific region. But the Asia-Pacific region’s recovery coincided with the supply chain issues. That is holding back the numbers returning to what they were.” Menon highlights the strong improvement in passenger load factor, which climbed nearly nine percentage points to 80.9%. “That is as strong as they were pre-Covid. So business as usual. If you look at 10 busiest routes, seven of them are in Asia,” he says.<br/>

Some of India's top airlines have been ordered to start sending out passengers' bags within 10 minutes of the plane's engine shutting down. The civil aviation ministry has said that passengers' luggage should be delivered to them within 10 to 30 minutes after landing. The airlines have until 26 February to comply with the order. Late baggage delivery has been a persistent problem across airports. The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) directed seven airlines, including carriers like Air India, Vistara and IndiGo, to implement necessary measures to ensure timely delivery of baggage. The directive comes after the aviation ministry monitored the time it took for luggage to be delivered to passengers at six major airports in India. The operations of seven airlines were scrutinized across 3,600 flights. A statement by the ministry said that the review exercise began in January and was still ongoing. It also said that though the performance of all airlines with regards to baggage delivery had improved, it didn't meet the mandated guidelines.<br/>

Plans to charge a levy on passengers departing Singapore so airlines here use greener jet fuel will not put the Republic’s status as a global aviation hub at risk, said International Air Transport Association (Iata) chief Willie Walsh. That is because all major air hubs and airlines around the world are pursuing a similar agenda, and passengers will ultimately bear the cost of the aviation industry’s transition to net-zero emissions by 2050, he told a press conference on Feb 19. Rounding up the second Changi Aviation Summit, which brought together more than 400 senior government officials and industry leaders, Walsh said the only credible option available for aviation to decarbonise by 2050 is to pursue the widespread use of sustainable fuels. Yet, such fuels are three to five times more expensive than conventional fuel, and this will be reflected in airfares, whether through a levy or airlines raising ticket prices. “The cost of travel will increase... It just cannot be avoided,” said Walsh, who heads the industry body representing 320 airlines, adding that carriers will pass on the extra costs incurred given the thin margins.<br/>

Transport Minister Suriya Juangruangreangkit has instructed the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand to try and persuade airlines to lower domestic air fares, in response to travellers' complaints. He said on Monday that CAAT officials would meet with representatives of all airlines that operate domestic flights on Tuesday to discuss the possibility of fare reductions. Later, the CAAT would present its proposals to the Civil Aviation Board for approval, the minister said. He chairs the board. Mr Suriya said travellers complained about high air fares, especially for flights to Phuket. Even so, he said, present air fares remained within the CAAT's fare ceilings. The minister said fare ceilings for a flight to Phuket were 9,074 baht for general airlines and 6,561 baht for low-cost airlines. said, present air fares remained within the CAAT's fare ceilings. The minister said fare ceilings for a flight to Phuket were 9,074 baht for general airlines and 6,561 baht for low-cost airlines.<br/>

Singapore on Tuesday kicked off Asia's biggest air show - the first in six years unaffected by pandemic restrictions - as the global aviation industry grapples with a full rebound in travel demand in the face of severe supply constraints. More than 1,000 companies from more than 50 countries are participating in the biennial commercial and defence-focused Singapore Airshow, organiser Ravinder Singh said at the opening ceremony, led by Western industry giants such as Airbus, Boeing and Lockheed Martin and their Chinese competitors such as COMAC and AVIC. Russian companies like Russian Helicopters and Irkut that attended past editions of the show are not participating this year amid the war in Ukraine. However, Israeli companies Israel Aerospace Industries and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems which dropped out of the Dubai Airshow in November amid the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza have come to Singapore. The flying display will feature military aircraft from Singapore, Australia, India, Indonesia, South Korea and the U.S., as well as the COMAC C919 commercial jet's first appearance outside Chinese territory and an Airbus A350-1000 powered in part by sustainable aviation fuel. The strong international participation comes as borders have fully reopened after COVID-19. By the end of 2023, travel demand had made a near-full recovery from pre-pandemic levels in 2019, with domestic travel running 4% higher than pre-COVID levels and the international market lagging at 88% mostly because of China's slower rebound, according to International Air Transport Association data. "When I look at 2023, in effect, I'm looking at an industry that I think is very similar in shape and size to what we saw in 2019," IATA Director General Willie Walsh said at a pre-show summit on Monday. "So going forward, I think you should expect us to stop making reference back to 2019 and to start looking at the industry in a normal way."<br/>

Boeing will not be bringing any commercial planes to the Singapore Airshow, shifting the spotlight for passenger jets to rival Airbus as well as China’s homegrown offering. It comes as Boeing reported a decline in aircraft orders and deliveries in January in the aftermath of a midflight blowout of a fuselage panel on one of its 737 Max 9s at the start of the year. While there will be aerial displays of commercial liners by Airbus and China’s domestic jetliner Comac C919, Boeing will not have any commercial aircraft at the air show. To be clear, Boeing will still be showcasing its defense capabilities, and will be featuring many of its fighter jets, including the B-52 Stratofortress which will participate in the U.S. Air Force aerial display. While no commercial jets will be featured, Boeing will still be holding a cabin display of its wide-body 777X passenger plane, which the company claims is the world’s largest twin-engine jet. Deliveries for the aircraft, expected from 2025, have been plagued with delays. The Singapore Airshow — held from Feb. 20 to 25 — is typically attended by tens of thousands, including military delegations and aviation enthusiasts. Other aerospace and defense bellwethers including Lockheed Martin, Dassault, SAAB, Leonardo, Thales are among those participating at this year’s event. This is the first major international aerospace event since the blowout last month, which pushed Boeing into another safety crisis after the US safety regulators ordered the temporary grounding of more than 170 Boeing 737 Max 9 planes. Rival Airbus will be flying its large widebody A350-1000 model at the air show. The French plane maker will also have static displays of helicopters, military aircrafts as well as another commercial jet, the A330neo.<br/>

Beijing’s C919 airliner, a potential rival to Western-made Boeing and Airbus planes, made its first foray outside Chinese territory on Sunday by staging a flyby at the Singapore Airshow. The single-aisle jet, manufactured by the state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac), is a prominent symbol of Beijing’s broader “Made in China” strategy, which aims to reduce reliance on foreign manufacturers. China calls the C919, which can carry just under 200 passengers, its first large homegrown passenger jet. The aircraft took to the skies for its first commercial flight last May. It s certified to carry passengers only within mainland China and flies with China Eastern Airlines. This is “the first time we will be having exhibitors from China,” Cindy Koh, executive vice-president of Singapore’s Economic Development Board, one of the airshow’s organizers, told reporters Sunday. China has made no secret of its ambition to eventually compete against Boeing and Airbus. The C919’s overseas debut comes at a time when Boeing is making headlines for all the wrong reasons. Last month, part of the fuselage of a 737 Max 9 Boeing plane fell off during an Air Alaska flight in the United States.<br/>

Embraer and CAE have launched Asia-Pacific’s first E2 full-flight simulator, ahead of the E190-E2’s service entry with low-cost carrier Scoot this year. Located at the Singapore CAE Flight Training Centre, the simulator is being used for training by an initial batch of six pilots from Scoot. The Singapore Airlines unit is taking nine E190-E2s on lease from Azorra. The CAE 7000XR-series device is also the first full-flight simulator for a commercial aircraft to be provided under a joint venture between CAE and the Brazilian airframer. Embraer CAE Training Services currently offers full-flight simulators for Embraer’s Phenom business jets. Other E2 simulators are located in Canada, France and Switzerland, in partnership with training provider FlightSafety International. The simulator was certificated by Singapore regulators in December 2023 and will support operators in the region. Apart from Scoot, Malaysian carrier SKS Airways is due to take delivery of E195-E2s this year. Carlos Naufel, Embraer Services and Support chief, says the launch of the E2 simulator “is part of Embraer’s commitment to grow our infrastructure in Asia-Pacific and to contribute to the region’s aviation growth story”. “The start of training and the official inauguration… is a significant milestone in the growth and success of Embraer-CAE Training Services,” adds Michel Azar-Hmouda, CAE divisional president for civil aviation training.<br/>

As part of a long-term plan to bolster its presence in Southeast Asia, Pratt & Whitney has expanded its Eagle Services Asia engine centre in Singapore, which it expects will boost geared turbofan (GTF) engine production at the facility by about two-thirds in 2024. During an opening ceremony on 19 February, the RTX subsidiary said the facility has been expanded by 4,459sq m. A joint venture between SIA Engineering and P&W, the Eagle Services facility is supported by P&W’s Singapore Technology Accelerator, which “integrates robotics, automation and machine learning to increase efficiency, lower stress on machine operators and increase safety for key MRO processes”, the engine maker says. The facility has completed more than 500 GTF overhauls since MRO capabilities came online in 2019.<br/>

Boeing's CEO Dave Calhoun is the right person to lead the company out of its latest safety crisis, after a panel blew out of a 737 MAX 9 plane in flight last month, the head of the world's biggest airline trade body said on Monday.<br/>Boeing has come under fire from regulators, lawmakers and some airline bosses after the Jan. 5 incident on an Alaska Air flight sparked broader concerns over its manufacturing practices. International Air Transport Association (IATA) Director General Willie Walsh said that while some in the industry were angry after the blow-out, Calhoun and his leadership team had done well to take responsibility and commit to finding solutions. "Boeing are taking the right measures. I think they've responded much, much better to this than other events," Walsh told Reuters on the sidelines of an industry summit in Singapore. "I've heard people say you need a change in leadership. I disagree ... I'm confident that he (Calhoun) will fix it." Walsh said he didn't expect Boeing's safety problems to result in airlines ordering fewer of the manufacturer's planes or prompt passengers to avoid booking tickets with airlines that use the 737 MAX 9 aircraft. Walsh was speaking a day before the start of the Singapore Airshow, Asia's largest aviation event, where there is a buzz around the first trip outside Chinese territory for China's homegrown passenger jet, the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China's (COMAC) narrow-body C919.<br/>