Finland's Government announced (29-Sep-2022) it will restrict entry for Russian tourists effective 30-Sep-2022, in order to stop all tourism and related transits from Russia. The Government stated: "The Russian mobilisation and rapidly increasing volume of tourists arriving in Finland and transiting via Finland endanger Finland's international position and international relations". The resolution applies to both tourism into Finland and transits to other countries and will remain in force "until further notice". [more - original PR]
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Virgin Atlantic Airways joins SkyTeam – because it canVirgin Atlantic and SkyTeam announced on 27-Sep-2022 that the UK long haul airline would join the alliance in 2023.
The announcement talked of the benefits to customers of improved frequent flyer benefits and greater access to SkyTeam members' global network.
However, Virgin Atlantic is already a member of an immunised joint venture on the North Atlantic, by far its most important market, with leading SkyTeam members Air France, KLM and Delta Air Lines (the latter also owns 49% of Virgin Atlantic).
Its relationship with these three partners could not really grow any closer as a result of SkyTeam membership. The benefits of Virgin's latest move will mainly be felt in other markets and by other SkyTeam airlines, but will be less significant than those already gained.
As much as anything, this feels like an exercise in completeness. It is doing it because it can.
Over several years now attempts by the Nigerian government to privatise the country’s four main airports by concession have been consistently and successfully resisted by a range of pressure groups.
The latest attempt, which began a year ago, now sees Turkey’s TAV Airports enter the fray, leading a consortium for the Lagos Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), the country’s busiest, and one where there is already a degree of privatisation as one of its terminals is privately managed.
The problem is that India’s GMR has also launched a bid, and that company, like TAV, is part-owned by Groupe ADP. That has given a platform for the anti-privatisation elements and there are strong words being bandied about.
On paper Lagos wouldn’t necessarily attract many investors. But they will take a macroeconomic view – population, a growing middle class, and a solid industrial base focused on Nigeria’s oil exports.
This is part two of a two-part report.
Australian airlines are looking to new aircraft types and a flurry of consolidation moves to broaden the scope of their operations in the country’s vital regional aviation sector.
Qantas is planning to introduce Airbus A220s on its regional network, and the airline is also seeking approval to complete its acquisition of Alliance Aviation.
Meanwhile, Regional Express Holdings (Rex) is considering how its takeover of National Jet Express could enhance its own fleet strategy.
The fleet and acquisition moves will further shake up what has been a very dynamic market sector for Australia’s airline groups.
This regular CAPA report provides a summary of recent aviation sustainability and environment news. This latest issue features:
IATA: Traditional fuel suppliers must turn their attention to SAFs
WestJet operates second SAF-powered flight
Air Canada selects CHOOOSE as new carbon offset programme provider
Curacao Hato International Airport to focus on cargo and electric aviation in new business strategy
Cebu Pacific operates first SAF powered commercial flight
Premium Analysis
TAV Airports bids to operate Lagos Airport: part one – legal issues cloud the prospectOver several years now attempts by the Nigerian government to privatise the country’s four main airports by concession have been consistently and successfully resisted by a range of pressure groups.
The latest attempt, which began a year ago, now sees Turkey’s TAV Airports enter the fray, leading a consortium for the Lagos Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), the country’s busiest, and one where there is already a degree of privatisation, as one of its terminals is privately managed.
The problem is that India’s GMR has also launched a bid, and that company, like TAV, is part-owned by Groupe ADP. That has given a platform for the anti-privatisation elements and there are strong words being bandied about.
On paper, Lagos wouldn’t necessarily attract many investors. But they will take a macroeconomic view – population, a growing middle class, and a solid industrial base focused on Nigeria’s oil exports.
This is part one of a two-part report.
CAPA Asia Aviation Summit & Awards for ExcellenceMore
Upcoming Event
1st wk
Nov-2022
(2 days)
Singapore: CAPA Asia Aviation Summit & Awards for Excellence
The CAPA Asia Aviation Summit is the region’s pre-eminent gathering of aviation and travel industry executives, offering a unique blend of high level aviation content and management insights.
CTC Australasia Corporate Travel Summit & Sustainability AwardsMore
Upcoming Event
4th wk
Nov-2022
(2 days)
Sydney: CTC Australasia Corporate Travel Summit & Sustainability Awards
CTC Australasia Corporate Travel Summit returns to Sydney, Australia on 22-23 November 2022 and will feature CTCs Sustainability Awards.
Recorded at CAPA Australia Pacific Aviation Summit, 3rd week of Sep 2022
Australia’s domestic and regional market situation – a review
Australia’s domestic and regional market situation – a review
With Omicron behind us and state borders reopened, Australia’s domestic market is undergoing a round of rapid growth and transformation. Virgin Australia’s fall into administration and the pandemic response of Qantas/Jetstar create significant space in the market. With domestic demand now nearly recovered, a new battle for market share is heating with up new entrants Rex and Bonza seek to challenge the incumbent operators. This has the potential to trigger the kind of fare war last seen in the Australian domestic market in 2016.
Panel:
- ASM Australasia, Director, Jayne Davey
- ASM Australasia, Director, Hans Mitterlechner
WestJet announced (29-Sep-2022) a purchase order for 42 Boeing 737 MAX 10s, with options for an additional 22 aircraft. The 230 seat aircraft offers a range of 3100 nautical miles. WestJet CEO Alexis Von Hoensbroech stated: "The 737 MAX 10 will be a game changer, with one of the lowest costs per seat among mid-range aircraft. This will foster our low-cost positioning and affordability for Canadians. In addition, with its lower fuel consumption and reduced emissions, the MAX 10 will further improve the environmental footprint of our fleet". The carrier currently has over 15 737 MAX 8 aircraft in its fleet. [more - original PR]
Singapore Airport Terminal Services (SATS) reached (28-Sep-2022) an agreement to acquire Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) from an affiliate of Cerberus Capital Management for EUR2.25 billion. Following the close of the transaction, WFS will become a wholly owned subsidiary of SATS and the WFS management team will continue to lead the business. Through initiatives that will include cross-selling, network expansion and deeper e-commerce cargo partnerships, the combined entity is expected to capture meaningful run rate EBITDA synergies in excess of SGD100 million (USD69.6 million). The parties stated that with over 200 cargo and ground handling stations in over 20 countries, the combined company is expected to be the "largest global air cargo handler". The transaction is subject to customary regulatory and SATS shareholder approval and is expected to close by 31-Mar-2023. [more - original PR] [more - original PR - II]
Virgin Atlantic Airways announced (27-Sep-2022) plans to join SkyTeam in 1Q2023, becoming the alliance's first and only UK member airline and enhancing its transatlantic network and services connecting to London Heathrow Airport and Manchester Airport. Virgin's entry into the alliance builds on its transatlantic JV partnership with Delta Air Lines and Air France-KLM. SkyTeam CEO Kristin Colvile stated: "Virgin Atlantic will benefit from increased opportunities to expand its global network through partnerships and synergies [and] customers will have more ways to earn and burn miles while enjoying the service for which Virgin Atlantic is renowned". [more - original PR]
Canada's Government released (27-Sep-2022) its Aviation Climate Action Plan, an initiative which:
- Presents a vision of net zero emissions by 2050 for the Canadian aviation sector;
- Sets a "purposefully ambitious" goal of 10% for the use of sustainable aviation fuel by 2030;
- Includes key pathways and actions that the government and the aviation industry intend to work on to improve efficiency and reduce pollution from aviation activities.
The plan will undergo a series of updates from 2024, which will include reassessing long term projections, strengthening short term commitments, setting interim targets and ensuring continued alignment with Canada's climate commitments. [more - original PR]
Norse Atlantic Airways announced (27-Sep-2022) the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) granted the carrier an air operator certificate (AOC) and operating licence, enabling it to begin direct flights from the UK. The carrier plans to operate between London Gatwick Airport and several US destinations, subject to further regulatory approvals, in particular serving routes that are currently "unserved by direct flights or lacking sufficient capacity". CEO Bjorn Tore Larsen said the carrier will employ local pilots and cabin crew at its London Gatwick base and has established "close working relationships" with the British Airline Pilots' Association, the Unite cabin crew union and the US Association of Flight Attendants-CWA. Mr Larsen added: "We look forward to ramping up our operations between London and the US ready for our summer 2023 schedule". [more - original PR]
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Find Out MoreAirline Sustainability Benchmarking Report 2021 - Business Travel Edition
This report, jointly prepared by CAPA - Centre for Aviation (CAPA) and Envest Global (Envest), is designed to highlight some of the core elements of sustainable aviation, methods of quantifying individual airline sustainability credentials, and emissions.