Wizz Air achieved (14-Jun-2019) the lowest CO2 emissions per passenger among competitor airlines. The carrier reported 56.5g CO2 per passenger/km in May-2019, a decrease of 4.4% year-on-year. Wizz Air plans to include the emissions figure in monthly statistics. CEO József Váradi said: "We have set ambitious goals for ourselves to further reduce the impact on the environment by deploying the latest state-of-the-art technology and further reducing CO2 emissions per passenger by a third by 2030. We have the best tools to achieve this - the A321neo aircraft". [more - original PR]
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Delta Air Lines-unions: anti-union gaffe creates a firestormDelta Air Lines is arguably one of the best-run airlines in North America, regularly distinguishing itself from its peers through product innovation and consistent operational excellence.
Another distinctive feature in Delta’s business that makes it unique with respect to its larger airline peers is the low level of union representation among its labour groups. Its pilots are the only unionised employee group. For years, unions have been attempting to organise Delta’s other large work groups, and the International Association of Machinists (IAM) is working to represent Delta’s flight attendants and ramp employees.
It is not surprising that Delta is taking action aggressively to head off the IAM’s efforts to unionise those employees groups, but the airline’s anti-union campaign has recently stumbled and now Delta is battling a wave of criticism on social media and drawing ire from presidential contenders.
The backlash is also a lesson in the speed with which social media can tarnish a corporate image, and now Delta is trying to make amends. But it is tough to determine what, if any, permanent damage Delta’s brand could endure.
Latin America’s second largest airline – Avianca Holdings – is facing one of the most tumultuous times in its 100-year history.
The airline is navigating financial struggles and a CEO and board shake-up as its majority shareholder was unceremoniously removed as chairman. And although it has no formal ties to Avianca Brazil, the Brazilian airline’s misfortune has forced Avianca to stress that their operations are entirely separate.
Now Avianca is in triage mode, but it does have the support from its prospective JV partner, United, which has a vested interest in ensuring that Avianca survives and thrives.
Arguably, United’s Latin American strategy rests on Avianca’s rebound.
CAPA - Centre for Aviation is pleased to welcome back to Sydney the 2019 CAPA Australia Pacific Aviation Summit on 07/08-Aug-2019 at the Sydney Hyatt Regency.
This event is set to once again attract the leading airline, airport and travel industry executives from Australia and key foreign markets, making it the largest strategic event of its kind in the region.
Expect an audience of 600+ aviation leaders, and senior executives from the Qantas and Virgin Australia groups, Japan Airlines, AirAsia X and many others, addressing such diverse issues confronting the industry as "What's really going on within the competitive market in Australia?", "The future of the trans-Tasman market", "The great debate: Airport regulation, friend or foe?" and "Drones: Adapting to a world of UAVs, what's next?".
This important aviation Summit is supported by the NSW Government, through its tourism and major events agency Destination NSW.
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Korean Air: a new CEO and Korean cuts first class routesKorean Air is considering joining a growing list of major international airlines in removing first class. Reducing, and potentially eliminating, first class represents a shift in product strategy under Korean's new CEO Walter Cho, who took over from his late father Cho Yang-ho in Apr-2019.
At the beginning of Jun-2019 the airline stopped selling a first class service on 27 international routes, although these routes are still operated with medium size widebody aircraft (A330s, older variant 777s and 787s) that are configured with a first class cabin. For now, the first class seats on these 27 routes are being sold as business class, but are expected to be removed as Korean Air embarks on a major widebody retrofit programme.
Korean Air continues to sell first class on nearly 40 international routes, including all routes operated by A380s, 747-8s and 777-300ERs. However, the airline is also considering removing first class from these three large widebody aircraft types as part of future retrofits, potentially resulting in a consistent two class product across its international network.
Seoul has emerged as one of the world’s largest aviation markets, with traffic poised to reach the 100 million passenger milestone in 2019 or 2020. The market has more than doubled in size since 2009, when there were 44 million passengers.
The Seoul market has become large enough – and is growing fast enough – to merit consideration of potential alternative airports to supplement Gimpo and Incheon. Cheongju, a joint military/commercial airport located an hour and a half to the south of Seoul, is vying for hub status as part of an ambitious aeropolis project.
The low cost start-up Aero K has selected Cheongju as its base, which should significantly accelerate the airport’s growth. Cheongju already counts the existing Korean LCCs Eastar Jet, Jeju Air and Jin Air as its largest airlines and may add an LCC terminal to cater to growth as Aero K and the existing competitors expand.
LCCs already account for more than 30% of passenger traffic at Incheon and will need to consider alternative hubs as Incheon approaches capacity. With improved ground connections to Seoul and lower costs, Cheongju Airport should be able to attract price sensitive leisure passengers travelling between South Korea and its three largest international markets – China, Japan and Vietnam.
Recorded at CAPA Middle East & Africa Aviation Summit, 29-30 Apr 2019
Sabre: From Airlines To Retailers – Changing The Thought Process
Sabre VP travel solutions Middle East and Africa Dino Gelmetti believes achieving innovation comes down to a company’s willingness to change and lessons in any future retail like strategy will mainly come from outside the aviation industry.
CAPA LCCs in North Asia SummitMore
Upcoming Event
24-25
Jun
Cebu: CAPA LCCs in North Asia Summit
CAPA’s LCCs in North Asia Summit attracts the highest calibre of thought-leaders in the industry. Join us as we: discuss how LCCs revolutionised tourism in the region; look back on two decades of LCCs in Asia; and explore China’s growth opportunity.
CAPA Perth SummitMore
Upcoming Event
5
Jul
Perth: CAPA Perth Summit
CAPA’s Perth Aviation Summit explores key issues & opportunities facing the industry in this region. A separate Corporate Travel Summit is being held at this time for buyers and suppliers on how these issues & opportunities impact their travel programmes.
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14-Jun-2019 12:49 PM
Lufthansa Group network airlines pax up 5% in May-2019, pax up 9% on Americas routes
Lufthansa Group reported (13-Jun-2019) the following traffic highlights for network airlines* for May-2019:
- Passengers: 9.7 million, +5.0% year-on-year;
- Europe: 7.5 million, +3.9%;
- Americas: 1.1 million, +8.9%;
- Asia Pacific: 636,000, +7.3%;
- Middle East and Africa: 430,000, +10.9%;
- Load factor: 80.2%, -1.0ppt;
- Americas: 85.1%, +3.0ppts;
- Asia Pacific: 83.5%, +4.4ppts;
- Europe: 76.8%, -1.2ppts;
- Middle East and Africa: 75.3%, +4.8ppts. [more - original PR - English/German]
*Network airlines include Lufthansa, regional airlines, SWISS, Edelweiss Air and Austrian Airlines.
Air Canada Pilots Association (ACPA) supported (13-Jun-2019) Canadian Transport Minister Marc Garneau's decision for Canada to conduct an independent validation of the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. ACPA noted future training on the 737 MAX in Canada should include simulator training that will incorporate all systems and equipment which will exist in the aircraft, as well as potential scenarios which could involve all aircraft systems or equipment. The association also urged the government to ensure Boeing fully discloses its reasons for developing and deploying the MCAS system without issuing a proper notification to regulatory authorities, operators and pilots regarding the system's inclusion. [more - original PR]
CAAC reported the following traffic highlights for Chinese airlines (Carnoc.com, 13-Jun-2019):
- May-2019:
- Passengers: 54.5 million, +8.7% year-on-year;
- Domestic: 48.5 million, +7.6%;
- International: 6.0 million, +18.7%;
- Cargo: 624,000 tonnes, -0.4%;
- Domestic: 416,000 tonnes, stable;
- International: 208,000 tonnes, -1.2%;
- Passengers: 54.5 million, +8.7% year-on-year;
- Five months ended May-2019:
- Passengers: 268 million, +8.5%;
- Domestic: 238 million, +7.6%;
- International: 30.2 million, +16.5%;
- Cargo: 2.9 million tonnes, -1.4%;
- 2.0 million tonnes, -1.5%;
- 949,000 tonnes, -1.1%.
- Passengers: 268 million, +8.5%;
Transat reported (13-Jun-2019) its outlook for the following markets during summer 2019:
- Trans Atlantic outbound from Canada and Europe: Constitutes substantial portion of business during summer 2019, with capacity up 1% from May-2019 to Oct-2019. Load factors are up 0.7% year-on-year and 64% of capacity is sold;
- Sun destinations outbound from Canada: Low season during summer 2019. Load factors and capacity comparable to 2018, with 60% of capacity sold.
Transat expects 3Q2019 results to be slightly higher year-on-year, provided current trends remain. [more - original PR - English/French]
Dufry opened (13-Jun-2019) a 1200sqm walk through store at Perth Airport's international departures hall following a five month refurbishment. The new store represents a 50% expansion of the duty free offering in T1 International with more than 1600 new products available. The store covers core duty free categories including cosmetics and perfumes, and wine and spirits, in addition to a 'Perth Street Market' area showcasing local Australian products. Dufry also plans to open a 1100qm store at the airport's arrivals hall. [more - original PR]
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