CAPA News Briefs

Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects (DAEP) launched (08-Oct-2018) a tender for the substructure "mega project" for Dubai Al Maktoum Airport's expansion, in preparation for its award during 1Q2019. The substructure package which is "considered the largest project of its kind worldwide" according to DAEP, consists of construction works related to the foundations, basement walls, tunnels, columns, slabs on grade and apron slabs of the first Concourse (2.7km long), the west terminal building, the short term car park and the staff car park. "DAEP commenced this week interviewing all joint-ventures and consortium formed by leading local and international contractors specifically for this job, in order to shortlist those who are prequalified to be invited for the tender which will go out soon", the company said. [more - original PR]

Aerion CEO Tom Vice announced (15-Oct-2018) the company, working in close collaboration with Lockheed Martin and GE Aviation, has concluded the conceptual design phase for the AS2 supersonic business jet and had embarked on preliminary design. The design phase for the aircraft is due to conclude in Jun-2020. Mr Vice said the company is "on track to fly in 2023, and before that year is out cross the Atlantic at supersonic speed, which will be the first supersonic crossing since the Concorde's retirement 20 years earlier". [more - original PR]

CAPA - Centre for Aviation, in a report entitled: 'Thailand-China LCC expansion drives enormous growth', stated (17-Oct-2018) Thailand-China has emerged as one the world's largest and fastest growing air travel markets. There are close to 1300 weekly services from Thailand to China, generating 250,000 one way seats. Seven years ago there were 200 weekly services, generating only 40,000 one way seats. Thailand has become the most popular destination for Chinese travellers outside greater China. Chinese visitor numbers to Thailand are on pace to exceed 11 million in 2018, compared to less than two million in 2011. The LCC penetration rate in the Thailand-China market grew from 7% to 44% over the past seven years and is poised to increase further as all Thailand's LCCs are banking heavily on China as they expand. [more - CAPA Analysis]

CAAC reported (12-Oct-2018) the following traffic highlights for Sep-2018: 

• Passengers: 50.3 million, +7.7% year-on-year;
  • Domestic: 45.3 million, +7.6%;
  • International: 5.0 million, +10.5%;
• Number of flights: 468,823, +3.9%;
• Flight hours: 945,000, +5.7%. [more - original PR - Chinese]

UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) reported (18-Oct-2018) it is working to finalise new implementation procedures for the 1995 UK US Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement (BASA). According to the UK CAA, aircraft design and production approvals are being finalised to address the following options: 

• UK remains part of EASA system: There will be no changes to the working level arrangements currently in place between the EU and USA and the EASA will continue to be the competent authority for design matters;
• UK leaves EASA system: UK CAA needs to re-establish its aircraft design certification capability to ICAO Annex 8 State of Design obligations and support the import/export and operation of aircraft manufactured in the UK and third countries. [more - original PR]

New York John F Kennedy International Airport reported (18-Oct-2018) the following traffic highlights for Aug-2018: 

• Passengers: 6.1 million, +2.3% year-on-year;
• • Domestic: 2.7 million, +5.9%;
  • International: 3.5 million, -0.3%;
• Cargo: 124,444 tons, -2.4%;
  • Freight: 117,605 tons, -1.8%;
    • Domestic: 22,405 tons, +10.6%;
    • International: 95,200 tons, -4.3%;
  • Mail: 6839 tons, -11.0%;
• Aircraft movements: 41,831, +0.1%;
  • Domestic: 23,629, +3.2%;
  • International: 17,050, -3.4%. [more - original PR]

Aeropuertos Argentina 2000, via its official LinkedIn account, announced (18-Oct-2018) Buenos Aires Aeroparque Jorge Newbery Airport handled 1.1 million passengers in Sep-2018, down 10.6% year-on-year. Buenos Aires Ezeiza International Airport handled 818,000 passengers, an 1.1% increase. Buenos Aires El Palomar Airport handled 82,600 passengers.

• Bariloche Airport: 166,488 passengers, a 28.3% increase;
• Cordoba Pajas Blancas International Airport: 271,425 passengers, a 10.9% increase;
• Iguazu Cataratas International Airport: 107,351 passengers, a 17.8% increase;
• Mendoza Francisco Gabrielli International Airport: 170,682 passengers, an 11.2% increase;
• Comodoro Rivadavia Airport: 57,042 passengers, a 4.9% increase;
• Rio Gallegos Airport: 18,416 passengers, a 7.6% decline;
• Rio Grande Airport: 12,410 passengers, a 3.9% increase;
• Jujuy El Cadillal Airport: 33,832 passengers, a 43.4% increase;
• Salta Martin Miguel de Guemes Airport: 107,622 passengers, a 0.8% decline;
• Tucuman Benj Matienzo Airport: 87,718 passengers, a 31.7% increase.

US Bureau of Transportation Statistics reported (18-Oct-2018) domestic airlines' full time equivalents monthly employment in Aug-2018. Details include:

• All 21 scheduled service passenger airlines: 439,615, +2.6% year-on-year;
  • Four network airlines: 285,145, +2.5%;
    • American Airlines: 102,261, +1.6%;
    • Delta Air Lines: 83,273, +1.7%;
    • United Airlines: 82,935, +0.2%;
    • Alaska Airlines: 16,676, +30.7%;
  • Five LCCs: 91,703, +2.2%;
    • Southwest Airlines: 58,135, +4.9%;
    • JetBlue: 18,362, +4.2%;
    • Spirit Airlines: 7299, +17.6%;
  • 10 regional airlines: 54,789, +4.1%;
    • SkyWest Airlines: 14,142, +19.8%;
    • Envoy: 13,008, +9.9%;
  •  Others:
    • Hawaiian Airlines: 6419. [more - original PR]

Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) reported (18-Oct-2018) Asia Pacific regional carriers increased international passenger traffic by 8% year-on-year for the year to the end of Aug-2018, reflecting strong business and leisure travel demand. During the same period, international air cargo demand increased by 4.8%. AAPA noted growth rates have moderated following the surge in 2017, with some concern over rising tensions between major trading nations. Rising fuel costs and currency fluctuations are putting margins under pressure, although overall, Asia Pacific airlines are expected to deliver substantial profits for the fourth year in succession. [more - original PR]

Aerolineas Argentinas presented (18-Oct-2018) its new strategic plan to support four focus points of sustainability, the development of the network, excellence in service, and adherence to processes and transparency. The carrier plans to increase revenues, improve fleet efficiency, enhance cost competitiveness, engage in human resources efficiency enhancement, improve commercial competitiveness, enhance the passenger travel experience and evolve into a digital company. To achieve these goals, the carrier outlined 66 projects including:

• Definition and implementation of a strategy for the FFP client;
• Development of the cargo business;
• Embraer and long haul fleet renewal;
• Widebody retrofit;
• Improve passenger digital experience;
• New corporate policies;
• Review of services and spares contracts;
• Airport charges optimisation. [more - original PR - Spanish]

Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg GmbH reported (17-Oct-2018) the following traffic highlights:

• Sep-2018:
  • Passengers: 3.4 million, +6.3% year-on-year;
    • Berlin Tegel: 2.3 million, +11.6%;
    • Berlin Schönefeld: 1.1 million, -2.8%;
  • Cargo: 3863 tonnes, -7.6%;
    • Berlin Tegel: 2792 tonnes, -17.0%;
    • Berlin Schönefeld: 1071 tonnes, +30.9%;
  • Aircraft movements: 27,625, +7.2%;
    • Berlin Tegel: 17,949, +7.7%;
    • Berlin Schönefeld: 9676, +6.3%;
• Nine months ended Sep-2018:
  
  • Passengers: 25.6 million, -1.3% year-on-year;
    • Berlin Tegel: 15.9 million, -1.9%;
    • Berlin Schönefeld: 9.7 million, -0.2%;
  • Cargo: 30,303 tonnes, -24.1%;
    • Berlin Tegel: 21,381 tonnes, -35.7%;
    • Berlin Schönefeld: 8922 tonnes, +33.2%;
  • Aircraft movements: 216,582, +0.5%;
    • Berlin Tegel: 136,361, -1.7%;
    • Berlin Schönefeld: 80,221, +4.4%. [more - original PR]

Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency issued (18-Oct-2018) a type certificate for PD-14 aircraft engine. Minister for Industry and Trade Denis Manturov said: "The first turbofan engine for civil aviation was successfully created in modern Russia". Rostec head Sergey Chemezov said: "We see big opportunities for PD-14 not only on the Russian but on the global aircraft manufacturing market. The process of validation of Rosaviatsiya's type certificate in Europe already commenced and is planned to be completed in 2019". Mr Manturov added MC-21 aircraft tests will be conducted simultaneously. Three serial PD-14 engines will be delivered to Irkut Corporation by the end of 2018. [more - original PR - Russian] [more - original PR - Russian - II] [more - original PR - Russian - III]