This is the time of year when millions of travellers are making summer vacation plans. Analysts expected record numbers to book flights to international destinations. Their outlook was so optimistic because global passenger traffic had shot up 7.1% in January, compared with last year, according to IATA. But then explosions hit in Brussels Tuesday. At least 30 people were killed and hundreds wounded in attacks at Brussels' main international airport and on a subway. Travellers, once again, were the victims of barbarism. For now at least, that dims the outlook for travel and tourism. All of that put a damper on the European tourism sector at a critical time: This Sunday is Easter, a peak travel period for Europeans enjoying a spring break. <br/>
general
The terrorist attacks in Brussels aren’t likely to prompt quick or dramatic changes in global airport security standards, according to the aviation arm of the United Nations. In a release condemning Tuesday’s violence at an airport and a subway station in Brussels, the top two officials of the ICAO Wednesday indicated they don’t anticipate any immediate or sweeping changes to such standards or guidelines. The officials also suggested that current practices and general standards covering airports and terminals world-wide already provide the right balance between “effective and sustainable security measures and an unobtrusive travel experience for passengers.” The statement didn’t indicate what changes may be likely once reviews are finished, but the tone suggested ICAO leaders overall are comfortable with today’s standards. <br/>
Airlines have lodged a formal complaint with European regulators over the US$60b market for spares and repairs on the world’s fleet of 24,000 aircraft, as EU investigators intensify their preliminary inquiry into whether carriers are being forced to accept anti-competitive maintenance contracts. IATA last week sent a letter to the EC listing grievances such as requirements by engine and component manufacturers to use only their spare parts for repairs. Meanwhile, Brussels is demanding further information from aircraft suppliers in a sign that it is deepening its informal inquiry. No formal investigation has yet been launched. The preliminary probe is focused on maintenance support for the CFM56 turbine and Rolls-Royce’s Trent XWB engines, as well for components including auxiliary power systems made by Honeywell. <br/>
Airbus is hoping to appeal directly to passengers with the launch of a modern cabin interior look, branded Airspace, which will debut on the Airbus A330neo in 2017 and will be displayed as a mock-up at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg from April 5-7. The Airspace by Airbus design, which is a “copy and paste” of the A350 XWB interior, uses customised LED lighting, parallel lines, soft shapes and ambient noise to create a relaxing space for passengers. It will be the standard interior on the A330neo. In the same way as Apple, BMW and Rolex designs are instantly recognisable without their logo, Airbus wants passengers to actively recognise and select its products. Airspace will launch on the A330neo when it enters service in 2017, with the A350 being upgraded to include some additional Airspace design elements soon after. <br/>
This week’s 2-day strike by French air traffic controllers has led to renewed calls by A4E for an action plan to minimise disruption in the event of further disputes. The strike, March 20-21, significantly reduced the number of services able to operate to and from French airports and added to journey times. The dispute centered around a protest over changes in working arrangements and higher workloads and cut capacity at French airports by as much as 33%. Eurocontrol reported there had been “extensive” flight delays in the regions surrounding several French regional airports during the two-day dispute. A4E said its members had experienced 500 cancellations over the 2 strike days, with the number of delayed flights being considerably higher. <br/>