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Air France Committed to Sustainable Aviation Fuel

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Air France Committed to Sustainable Aviation Fuel

Paris, France, January 12, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / Air France is strongly involved in the development of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), which can lower CO2 emissions by at least 75% when compared to traditional fossil fuel. Unfortunately, SAF is currently much more expensive than fossil fuel. Your contribution will help cover the difference and can directly reduce your carbon footprint.

Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is a clean substitute for fossil kerosene. This fuel is made from sustainable resources like waste oils from biological origin, such as used cooking oil. This means the fuel is cleaner, reduces emissions, and has a very low fine-particle emission, which is important for air quality. We can blend SAF with conventional fuel, meeting the same specifications as fossil kerosene.

For several years, Air France has been committed to reducing its CO2 emissions and is working with industry partners to find solutions to the climate crisis.

Between 2005 and 2019, Air France cut its CO2 emissions by 6%, despite an increase in traffic. We must continue on this path and step up our actions. The next step is to achieve a 15% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2030 compared with 2005. We have also set ourselves the goal of achieving zero net emissions by 2050, an ambitious but necessary goal to keep global warming below 2°C by the end of the century.

Currently, the main tool for reducing our carbon footprint is to invest in a modern, more fuel-efficient fleet. Air France invests 1 billion euros annually in its fleet renewal. The second mechanism we have at our disposal is to incorporate sustainable aviation fuel on our flights. It is now possible to manufacture fuel from used oils and wood residues or agricultural waste, which can reduce CO2 emissions by 75% over their life cycle compared to fossil fuel. These fuels, whose production does not compete with the food industry, can be incorporated safely without any modification to aircraft.

The quantities available are still very limited and sustainable aviation fuel is currently 4 to 8 times more expensive than conventional jet fuel. The emergence of large-scale industrial production facilities in France and Europe will help reduce these costs.

As from the beginning of 2022, French regulations will require the incorporation of an average of 1% Sustainable Aviation Fuel on flights departing from France. A “Sustainable Aviation Fuel” contribution will be included in the price of each ticket from 10 January, from €1 to €4 in the Economy cabin and from €1.50 to €12 in the Business cabin, depending on the distance. Thanks to this contribution, and to the voluntary participation of our corporate customers, over 15,000 tonnes of sustainable aviation fuel will be integrated in our aircraft in 2022, i.e., 10 times more than the previous year and significantly beyond the mandatory amount.

In addition, as from 13 January you will be able to voluntarily contribute to the purchase of additional Sustainable Aviation Fuel on our website to reduce the carbon footprint of your trip. Every euro you contribute will be invested in the purchase of this fuel. Members of our Flying Blue Frequent Flyer Programme will also be able to purchase SAF with their Miles and earn additional XP, thus facilitating their access to the different programme levels. This new service will be implemented in 2022.

First published at TravelCommunication.net

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

OAG Launches New Flight Info Alerts Platform

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OAG Launches New Flight Info Alerts Platform

Singapore, Singapore, November 22, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / Instant Notification and Detection Product Meets Changing Customer Needs. OAG the world’s leading provider of travel data and insight, today announced the launch of Flight Info Alerts, its new detection and notification product that delivers changes to flight schedules in real-time.

In response to customer demands for a fast and reliable feed which expedites vital changes, it is the only product on the market that enables customers to get instant updates on carrier flight schedules so they can handle data volatility in real-time.

“Alerts is a much-needed solution for our customers who manage bookings or operations and anyone who relies on the accuracy of these vital changes to drive their business. Volatility of this data over the last 18 months has become an increasing challenge, so our customers need us to tell them what’s changed in real-time,” said Phil Callow, CEO, OAG.

OAG’s Flight Info Alerts launch is the latest in a wave of new product innovations powered by its new technology platform, OAG Metis, which saw the release of Flight Info Direct, a Snowflake enabled platform to access and integrate ready to query data, earlier this year.

The evolution and ambition of OAG’s Flight Info API continues to gather pace to equip customers with data covering the full flight and booking journey, with the imminent availability of Flight Status Data into the API suite. Access through a singular API enables OAG customers to innovate, react faster and scale quicker.

Phil Callow adds, “We’re innovating rapidly to meet the changing needs of the travel sector. Our investment in OAG Metis and great tech partnerships with Snowflake and Microsoft Azure enable us to serve the entire ecosystem to scale and serve multiple markets rapidly and efficiently.”

OAG has customers across the travel ecosystem and is embedded in booking engines, travel and hospitality apps, airline apps, online travel agencies, metasearch, search engines, and flight tracking apps.

About OAG
OAG is a leading global travel data provider, that has been powering the growth and innovation of the air travel ecosystem since 1929. Headquartered in the UK, OAG has global operations in the USA, Singapore, Japan, Lithuania and China.

First published at TravelCommunication.net

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

IATA Appoints Marie Owens Thomsen as Chief Economist

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IATA Appoints Marie Owens Thomsen as Chief Economist - TRAVELINDEXGeneva, Switzerland, November 18, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that Marie Owens Thomsen will join the Association as its Chief Economist effective 4 January 2022.

Owens Thomsen will come from Banque Lombard Odier, where she has served as Head of Global Trends and Sustainability since 2020. Prior to that she was the long-time Global Head of Investment Intelligence (2011-2020) at Indosuez Wealth Management. Additionally, she has served in Chief Economist and related roles for Merrill Lynch, Dresdner Kleinwort Benson and HSBC. Her varied career also includes entrepreneurship and market development activities.

“Marie’s work on macro-economic issues with a focus on sustainability will prepare her to address aviation’s top issues—namely recovery from COVID-19 and sustainability. Coming from outside the aviation sector, she will bring valuable new insights and perspectives. And I am confident that she will carry on IATA’s reputation for objective reporting and analysis that is essential for explaining aviation’s contribution to the global economy and advocating for the polices airlines need to be successful,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.

“I am joining IATA to contribute to the aviation sector which has been a formidable long-term driver of economic growth. I’ll do this with a research approach that identifies causal factors for critical issues and their high-priority solutions. This is important as aviation begins the recovery from COVID-19 and continues the journey to net zero emissions. I look forward to a future where aviation can flourish within a sustainable global economy,” said Owens Thomsen.

Owens Thomsen holds a PhD in International Economics from The Graduate Institute in Geneva and an MBA equivalent from the University of Gothenburg in International Economics and Business. Holding US, UK and Swiss nationalities, she has worked in the UK, France and Switzerland and is fluent in Swedish, English and French.

Owens Thomsen succeeds Brian Pearce who retired from IATA earlier this year after serving as Chief Economist since 2004.

First published at TravelCommunication.net

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

IATA: China Eastern Airlines to Host 78th AGM in Shanghai

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IATA: China Eastern Airlines to Host 78th AGM in Shanghai

Shanghai, China, October 5, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that China Eastern Airlines will host the 78th IATA Annual General Meeting (AGM) and World Air Transport Summit in Shanghai, People’s Republic of China, on 19-21 June 2022.

This will be the third time China will host the global gathering of aviation’s top leaders. The AGM was previously held in Beijing in 2012 and in Shanghai in 2002.

“We look forward to gathering the aviation industry in Shanghai for the 78th IATA AGM. China is a dynamic aviation market, with its domestic travel among the fastest to recover from the damage brought by COVID-19. We are delighted to be able to bring the AGM to China again,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.

“China Eastern Airlines is excited to host the IATA AGM and to welcome our industry colleagues to our home city of Shanghai. In the 20 years since the AGM was last held in Shanghai, the city has completely changed. We look forward to showcasing our vibrant city and warm Chinese hospitality,” said Liu Shaoyong, Chairman, China Eastern Airlines.

The decision to host the 78th IATA Annual General Meeting and World Air Transport Summit was made by the 77th AGM and World Air Transport Summit in Boston.

First published at TravelCommunication.net

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

IATA: Blocked Airline Funds Could Slow Recovery

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IATA: Blocked Airline Funds Could Slow Recovery

Geneva, Switzerland, August 21, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / The International Air Transport Association (IATA) urged governments to abide by international agreements and treaty obligations to enable airlines to repatriate close to nearly $1 billion in blocked funds from the sale of tickets, cargo space, and other activities.

“Governments are preventing nearly $1 billion of airline revenues from being repatriated. This contravenes international conventions and could slow the recovery of travel and tourism in affected markets as the airline industry struggles to recover from the COVID-19 crisis. Airlines will not be able to provide reliable connectivity if they cannot rely on local revenues to support operations. That is why it is critical for all governments to prioritize ensuring that funds can be repatriated efficiently. Now is not the time to score an ‘own goal’ by putting vital air connectivity at risk,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.

Approximately $963 million in airline funds are being blocked from repatriation in nearly 20 countries. Four countries: Bangladesh ($146.1 million), Lebanon ($175.5 million), Nigeria ($143.8 million), and Zimbabwe ($142.7 million), account for over 60% of this total, although there has been positive progress in reducing blocked funds in Bangladesh and Zimbabwe of late.

“We encourage governments to work with industry to resolve the issues that are preventing airlines from repatriating funds. This will enable aviation to provide the connectivity needed to sustain jobs and energize economies as they recover from COVID-19,” said Walsh.

First published at TravelCommunication.net

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Airline Industry Statistics Confirm 2020 Was Worst Year on Record

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Airline Industry Statistics Confirm 2020 Was Worst Year on Record

Montreal, Canada, August 4, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released the IATA World Air Transport Statistics (WATS) publication with performance figures for 2020 demonstrating the devastating effects on global air transport during that year of the COVID-19 crisis:

  • 1.8 billion passengers flew in 2020, a decrease of 60.2% compared to the 4.5 billion who flew in 2019
  • Industry-wide air travel demand (measured in revenue passenger-kilometers, or RPKs) dropped by 65.9% year-on-year
  • International passenger demand (RPKs) decreased by 75.6% compared to the year prior
  • Domestic air passenger demand (RPKs) dropped by 48.8% compared to 2019
  • Air connectivity declined by more than half in 2020 with the number of routes connecting airports falling dramatically at the outset of the crisis and was down more than 60% year-on-year in April 2020
  • Total industry passenger revenues fell by 69% to $189 billion in 2020, and net losses were $126.4 billion in total
  • The decline in air passengers transported in 2020 was the largest recorded since global RPKs started being tracked around 1950

“2020 was a year that we’d all like to forget. But analyzing the performance statistics for the year reveals an amazing story of perseverance. At the depth of the crisis in April 2020, 66% of the world’s commercial air transport fleet was grounded as governments closed borders or imposed strict quarantines. A million jobs disappeared. And industry losses for the year totaled $126 billion. Many governments recognized aviation’s critical contributions and provided financial lifelines and other forms of support. But it was the rapid actions by airlines and the commitment of our people that saw the airline industry through the most difficult year in its history,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.

Key 2020 airline performance figures from WATS:

Passenger

  • Systemwide, airlines carried 1.8 billion passengers on scheduled services, a decrease of 60.2% over 2019
  • On average, there was a $71.7 loss incurred per passenger in 2020, corresponding to net losses of $126.4 billion in total
  • Measured in ASKs (available seat kilometers), global airline capacity plummeted by 56.7%, with international capacity being hit the hardest with a reduction of 68.3%
  • Systemwide passenger load factor dropped to 65.1% in 2020, compared to 82.5% the year prior
  • The Middle East region suffered the largest proportion of loss for passenger traffic* with a drop of 71.5% in RPKs versus 2019, followed by Europe (-69.7%) and the Africa region (-68.5%)
  • China became the largest domestic market in 2020 for the first time on record, as air travel rebounded faster in their domestic market following their efforts to control COVID-19
  • The regional rankings (based on total passengers carried on scheduled services by airlines registered in that region) are:
    ​​​​​​

    1. Asia-Pacific: 780.7 million passengers, a decrease of 53.4% compared to the region’s passengers in 2019
    2. North America: 401.7 million passengers, down 60.8% over 2019
    3. Europe: 389.9 million passengers, down 67.4% over 2019
    4. Latin America: 123.6 million passengers, down 60.6% over 2019
    5. Middle East: 76.8 million passengers, a decrease of 67.6% over 2019
    6. Africa: 34.3 million passengers, down 65.7% over 2019

Cargo

  • Air freight was the bright spot in air transport for 2020, as the market adapted to keep goods moving—including vaccines, personal protective equipment (PPE) and vital medical supplies—despite the massive drop in capacity from the bellies of passenger aircraft.
    • Industry-wide available cargo tonne-kilometers (ACTKs) fell 21.4% year-on-year in 2020
    • This led to a capacity crunch, with the industry-wide cargo load factor up 7.0 percentage points to 53.8%. This is the highest value in the IATA series started in 1990.
    • At the end of the year, industry-wide cargo tonne-kilometers (CTKs) had returned close to pre-crisis values. However, the yearly decline in cargo demand (CTKs) was still the largest since the Global Financial Crisis in 2009, at a sizeable 9.7% year-on-year in 2020.

Airline Alliances

  • Star Alliance maintained its position as the largest airline alliance in 2020 with 18.7% of total scheduled traffic (in RPKs), followed by SkyTeam (16.3%) and oneworld (12.7%)

First published at TravelCommunication.net

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

High Testing Costs Could Stall the Recovery

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Geneva, Switzerland, May 14, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / The International Air Transport Association (IATA) called on governments to ensure that high costs for COVID-19 testing don’t put travel out of reach for individuals and families. To facilitate an efficient restart of international travel, COVID-19 testing must be affordable as well as timely, widely available and effective. An IATA sampling of…

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First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

ICAO Recommendations Support Industry Restart

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Montreal, Canada, March 23, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / The International Air Transport Association (IATA) welcomed the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Council’s approval of the latest recommendations from its Aviation Recovery Task Force (CART). Key outputs include: Recommendations for Temporary liberalization of cargo flights Considering priority vaccination of air crew Increased…

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First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News