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airports

Premature Return to Pre-Pandemic Slots Increases Passenger Disruption

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IATA - Premature Return to Pre-Pandemic Slots Increases Passenger Disruption - AIRLINEHUB.com - TRAVELINDEXGeneva, Switzerland, July 15, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / The International Air Transport Association (IATA) expressed concern that a premature return to pre-pandemic slot use rules in the EU this winter risks continuing disruption to passengers.

The European Commission has announced it intends to return to the longstanding 80-20 slot use rule, which requires airlines to operate at least 80% of every planned slot sequence. Global slot rules are an effective system for managing access to and the use of scarce capacity at airports. The system has stood the test of time and while airlines are keen to restart services, the failure of several key airports to accommodate demand, coupled with increasing air traffic control delays, means a premature return to the 80-20 rule could lead to further passenger disruption.

The evidence so far this summer has not been encouraging. Airports had the 2022 summer season schedules and final slot holdings in January and didn’t evaluate how to manage this in time. Airports declaring that full capacity is available and then requiring airlines to make cuts this summer shows the system is not ready for reviving “normal” slot use this winter season (which begins at end of October).

“The chaos we have seen at certain airports this summer has occurred with a slot use threshold of 64%. We are worried that airports will not be ready in time to service an 80% threshold by the end of October. It is essential the Member States and Parliament adjust the Commission’s proposal to a realistic level and permit flexibility to the slot use rules. Airports are equal partners in the slot process, let them demonstrate their ability to declare and manage their capacity accurately and competently and then restore the slot use next summer,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Plaza Premium Announces Opening of Plaza Premium Lounge at Edinburgh Airport

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Plaza Premium Announces Opening of Plaza Premium Lounge at Edinburgh Airport - TRAVELINDEXEdinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom, May 20,2022 / TRAVELINDEX / Plaza Premium Group, the pioneer in global airport hospitality, is pleased to announce the opening of the new Plaza Premium Lounge at Edinburgh Airport – its first in Scotland. Typically considered the busiest airport in Scotland and the sixth busiest in the UK, the newest opening enables PPG to serve more than 14 million travellers through Edinburgh Airport.

The lounge presents an exciting new feature – the Group’s first gin bar in collaboration with Edinburgh Gin, an award-winning Premium Gin distilled in Edinburgh. Part of Ian Macleod Distillers’ family of brands, Edinburgh Gin pioneered the booming flavoured gin category in 2014 and has gained multiple leading awards for its wide range of naturally flavoured gins. Edinburgh Gin is now the number 1 selling Super Premium Gin in UK Travel Retail. The signature bar will have unique design features and accents of the Edinburgh Gin brand, to be revealed at a later date.

Spanning 670 sq. metres, the inaugural Plaza Premium Lounge in Edinburgh Airport caters to 165 pax and presents a fun space for all ages to spend the airport dwell time. The warm colours of the lounge’s interior and plush seating give travellers a cosy feeling upon entry. Subtle Scottish elements are woven into the interior design, from tartan upholstery to carefully selected local artwork referencing key Scottish landmarks and iconic imagery.

When in the lounge, travellers can choose from a variety of “zones”, then relax to enjoy stunning views of the runways and Edinburgh’s iconic surrounding countryside.

In addition to these features, the lounge caters to travellers with children in an “Interactive Area”. The family-friendly section provides shuffleboard, foosball and large screens showing live sports and entertainment. Iinteractive wall games and a small climbing wall will also keep children entertained and occupied during their wait for flights.

With sustainability in mind, furniture and materials have been sourced from local suppliers to minimize environmental impact. The lighting scheme is comprised of 100% LED lighting, and the lounge is installed with energy-efficient appliances.

“We are thrilled to have entered into this partnership with Plaza Premium Lounge, the world’s leading airport exec lounge operator,” says Ian Macleod Distillers’ Global Travel Retail Director, William Ovens. “Edinburgh Gin enjoys a leading role in the gin category in global travel retail and the Edinburgh Gin bar will become a stand-out showcase for the brand at its home city airport. This installation recognises Edinburgh Gin’s status in the world of gin and will become an iconic destination and major talking point in the months and years to come.”

“We know there is a pent-up demand for travel as people optimistically eye the beginning of the end of the pandemic. There is an overwhelming desire to reunite with family and friends, take that well-earned holiday, or reconnect with clients and we are confident that 2022 will be a key year in travel’s recovery” said Gail Taylor, Director of Retail and Property at Edinburgh Airport. “We want to be able to offer them the opportunity to get their trip off to the perfect start by relaxing in one of our lounges, which is why we are excited to be welcoming Plaza Premium Group to Edinburgh Airport – its first Scottish location,” he added.

“We are pleased to offer all these unique features to our travellers at our first Plaza Premium Lounge at Edinburgh Airport. Our latest offerings prove that we are constantly improving our products and services to cater to the different market needs whilst incorporating local touches to the experience. We are excited to be able to provide our award-winning, best-in-class signature hospitality in our third location in the UK and to introduce more travellers to the Plaza Premium Group. We look forward to expanding to more locations at major airports in Europe and in the UK in the months to follow,” shares Mr. Okan Kufeci, Regional General Manager, Europe, Middle East, and Africa, Plaza Premium Group.

The lounge is open daily to all travellers regardless of airline or class of travel, and without pre-booking. Travellers can enjoy Plaza Premium Lounge’s opening offer of 10% for walk-in and 20% discount with their Smart Traveller membership. All services are available for reservation on the Plaza Premium Lounge official website.

Recently awarded Skytrax “World’s Best Independent Airport Lounge” for the fifth consecutive year for, Plaza Premium Lounge’s expansion is a key component in the company’s global “Build Back Better” business transformation strategy.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Cartier Unveils Re-imagined Retail Experience at Bangkok Airport

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Cartier Unveils Re-imagined Retail Experience at Bangkok Airport - TOP25LUXURYCOLLECTIONS - TRAVELINDEXBangkok, Thailand, April 5, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / Cartier has emerged stronger than ever in its pursuit to cater to new travelers’ wants and needs, showing renewed commitment with their trusted partner – King Power International to accelerate the Maison’s presence in major airports.

Unwavering in its dedication to elevating client experience, Cartier introduces its latest airport boutique concept at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport. With this refined and impactful architectural statement, the Maison writes another bold chapter in its story as a distinctive brand within travel retail.

From feminine to masculine universes, a well-defined product zoning integrates seamlessly different product categories to create a fluid customer journey. A subtle combination of Cartier codes and local colors evoke an elegant and grandiose boutique, equipped with fine details to enhance the mood of travel, including drawer pull handles resembling luggage handles. A dedicated ‘‘icon bar’ is also incorporated, where shoppers with limited time at the airport can easily access the Maison’s signature creations.

To give a sense of place, local elements are infused into each boutique concept to deliver singular experiences to travelers. The interiors of the boutique at Bangkok airport feature signature hues of Cartier, creating a warm and inviting space

Since a blossoming partnership in 2004 with King Power International Company, Cartier’s boutique at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok has gone from strength to strength.

Strategically located at the gateway after customs clearance, its present location was a result of a move on March 1st 2022. Tradition meets modernity with an unmissable 40-meter façade, complete with two wide entrances to create fluid customer flow.

The interiors are subtle and Cartier adds its signature touches to create a warm and inviting space with well-defined and integrated product zoning, creating quintessentially Cartier.

Most notably, the boutique is the first in the Southeast Asia & Oceania region to enchant the senses with its full range of jewelry and watches under the Maison’s female, male and unisex product offerings.

“With Cartier, our longstanding partner, we proudly introduce the reinvigorated boutique at Suvarnabhumi Airport, which enables us to initiate contemporary conversations with clients as we continue to uphold our tradition of service in making travelers feel at home.” Antares Cheng, Chief Merchandising Officer, King Power International

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Dufry Extends Duty-Free Concession at Bali International Airport

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Dufry Extends Duty-Free Concession at Bali International Airport - TRAVELINDEX

Basel, Switzerland, March 15, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / Dufry, leading global travel retailer, has successfully extended its duty-free concession at Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport for another six years, which in 2019 welcomed 14 million travelers, and where Dufry has been operating since 2013. The new six-year contract also includes an increase in retail space of over 1,400 m2, thus extending the total sales area to over 3,600 m2, which will allow for the introduction of fashion and accessories as new categories.

The newly extended concession contract includes duty-free shops in both the international departure and arrival areas. The shops, mainly conceived as walk-through concepts, offer a wide assortment of the core duty-free categories such as perfume & cosmetics alongside liquor, tobacco and confectionery, providing travelers with a distinctive sense of place. In addition, travelers will also be able to enjoy a comprehensive offer of globally renowned fashion and accessory brands presented in twenty dedicated shops, allowing for an attractive positioning of luxury and premium labels. The fashion and accessories offer will be complemented by the dedicated House of Sarinah concept store featuring the best of Indonesian-made and internationally available iconic products from all over the country. Customers will thus benefit from a unique selection of fashion and accessories made possible through Dufry’s partnership with PT Sarinah (Persero) and their knowhow on local Indonesian labels.

Commenting on the new contract, Pedro Castro, Chief Operating Officer Asia-Pacific, said: “We are very proud to have been awarded the extension of this important Asian tourist destination, which attracts travelers from all over the world. We will honor the renewed trust from our partners of Angkasa Pura I and foster the longstanding relationship, by providing visitors of Bali International Airport with a further enhanced shopping experience meeting highest international standards and featuring a considerably extended product assortment.”

Aidhil Julian, Co General Manager Commercial I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport – Bali, added: “We are glad to have this opportunity to extend our partnership with Dufry. With the reputation of Bali Airport, who has earned top ten spots of safest airports in Southeast Asia for Covid-19 health and safety measures in 2021 according to Safe Travel Barometer, we are ready to combine the uniqueness of Bali with global expertise to captivate our passenger’s interest and leave them with the unforgettable shopping experience.”

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

IATA Travel Momentum Builds as Restrictions are Lifted

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IATA Travel Momentum Builds as Restrictions are Lifted - AIRLINEHUB.com - TRAVELINDEXGeneva, Switzerland, February 18, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data showing growing momentum in the recovery of air travel as restrictions are lifted. IATA reported a sharp 11-percentage point increase for international tickets sold in recent weeks (in proportion to 2019 sales).

– In the period around 8 February (7 day moving average) the number of tickets sold stood at 49% of the same period in 2019.
– In the period around 25 January (7 day moving average) the number of tickets sold stood at 38% of the same period in 2019.
– The 11-percentage point improvement between the January and February periods is the fastest such increase for any two-week period since the crisis began.

Progressive Alleviation of COVID-19 Measures

The jump in ticket sales comes as more governments announce a relaxation of COVID-19 border restrictions. An IATA survey of travel restrictions for the world’s top 50 air travel markets (comprising 92% of global demand in 2019 as measured by revenue passenger kilometers) revealed the growing access available to vaccinated travelers.

– 18 markets (comprising about 20% of 2019 demand) are open to vaccinated travelers without quarantine or pre-departure testing requirements.
– 28 markets are open to vaccinated travelers without quarantine requirements (including the 18 markets noted above). This comprises about 50% of 2019 demand.
– 37 markets (comprising about 60% of 2019 demand) are open to vaccinated travelers under varying conditions (18 having no restrictions, others requiring testing or quarantine or both).

These numbers reflect a spate of relaxations announced around the world, including in Australia, France, the Philippines, the UK, Switzerland, and Sweden among them.

“Momentum toward normalizing traffic is growing. Vaccinated travelers have the potential to travel much more extensively with fewer hassles than even a few weeks ago. This is giving growing numbers of travelers the confidence to buy tickets. And that is good news! Now we need to further accelerate the removal of travel restrictions. While recent progress is impressive, the world remains far from 2019 levels of connectivity. Thirteen of the top 50 travel markets still do not provide easy access to all vaccinated travelers. That includes major economies like China, Japan, Russia, Indonesia, and Italy,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.

IATA continues to call for:

– Removing all travel barriers (including quarantine and testing) for those fully vaccinated with a WHO-approved vaccine,
– Enabling quarantine-free travel for non-vaccinated travelers with a negative pre-departure antigen test result,
– Removing travel bans, and,
– Accelerating the easing of travel restrictions in recognition that travelers pose no greater risk for COVID-19 spread than already exists in the general population.

“Travel restrictions have had a severe impact on people and on economies. They have not, however, stopped the spread of the virus. And it is time for their removal as we learn to live and travel in a world that will have risks of COVID-19 for the foreseeable future. This means putting a stop to the singling out of the traveling population for special measures. In nearly all cases, travelers don’t bring any more risk to a market than is already there. Many governments have recognized this already and removed restrictions. Many more need to follow,” said Walsh.

First published at TravelCommunication.net

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Avolon and AirAsia Partner to Create Transformational Ride Sharing Platform

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Avolon and AirAsia Partner to Create Transformational Ride Sharing Platform

Dublin, Ireland, February 17, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / Avolon, the international aircraft leasing company, today announces that one of the world’s leading airline groups, AirAsia Aviation Group Limited (AirAsia), has signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding to lease a minimum of 100 VX4 eVTOL aircraft from Avolon.

These eVTOL aircraft will allow AirAsia to further revolutionise air travel by providing advanced air mobility to a whole new range of passengers, transforming how we all connect more efficiently in our everyday lives.

In addition to the eVTOL aircraft, Avolon, through its investment and innovation affiliate Avolon-e, will partner with AirAsia to commercialise zero-emissions eVTOL aircraft and develop an industry leading urban air mobility (‘UAM’) platform in Southeast Asia. Avolon and AirAsia will form a working group to pursue local certification, research potential market opportunities and infrastructure requirements for UAM. AirAsia will also leverage its successful travel and lifestyle mobile app, the AirAsia Super App, to help support and build an eVTOL ride sharing platform with Avolon.

Avolon VX4 Order book
In June 2021, Avolon ordered 500 VX4 eVTOL aircraft from Vertical Aerospace (NYSE: EVTL) (‘Vertical’), valued at US $2 billion. Since announcing that order, Avolon placed 250 VX4 aircraft with Gol and Grupo Comporte in Brazil, up to 100 aircraft with Japan Airlines in Japan, and a minimum of 100 aircraft with AirAsia. As a result, Avolon has now placed up to 90% of its initial orderbook, underlining the demand for VX4 aircraft from the world’s leading airlines.

Dómhnal Slattery, CEO of Avolon commented: “Tony Fernandes is an aviation pioneer who has built AirAsia into one of the leading airlines in the world and has now also created Southeast Asia’s fastest growing Super App anchored on travel. We are delighted to partner with AirAsia who share our vision of revolutionising the future of air travel. We look forward to working with Tony, and the AirAsia team, on their eVTOL journey. Together we will develop a ride sharing platform and bring the zero-emissions VX4 aircraft into service, positioning AirAsia as the operator of choice for sustainable air travel in the region.”

Tony Fernandes, CEO of Capital A commented: “Innovation has always been in our DNA and using technology to look at more efficient and sustainable ways of doing things is a core focus across Capital A (formerly AirAsia Group). We are now much more than just an airline with over 20 products and services on our super app leveraging off each other including flights, hotels, food, retail, delivery, ride hailing and more. I am truly excited about this partnership between Avolon and AirAsia and the potential for zero-emissions ultra-short-haul air travel in Southeast Asia. The digital era is now. In the VX4, we have identified what we believe will be the eVTOL aircraft of choice and we are thrilled to be the launch airline for the aircraft in Southeast Asia. We are also delighted to extend our long-standing relationship with Avolon, which has a proven track record of delivering for its customers and is in sync with our goal to become the leading one stop travel and delivery platform in Asean.”

Stephen Fitzpatrick, CEO of Vertical commented: “We are delighted that AirAsia is the latest leading airline committing to lease our zero-emissions VX4 aircraft. AirAsia provides many fantastic opportunities to travel around some of the most beautiful and diverse countries in the world, and I am thrilled that we will be bringing zero emissions flight to people all across Asia.”

About VX4 eVTOL Aircraft
VX4 eVTOL Aircraft The four passenger, one pilot VX4 is projected to have speeds up to 200mph, a range over100 miles, near silent when in flight, zero operating emissions and low cost per passenger mile. The VX4 is expected to open up advanced air mobility to a whole new range of passengers and transform how we travel. Find out more: vertical-aerospace.com

About Avolon
Headquartered in Ireland, with offices in the United States, Dubai, Singapore, Hong Kong and Shanghai, Avolon provides aircraft leasing and lease management services. Avolon is 70% owned by an indirect subsidiary of Bohai Leasing Co., Ltd., a public company listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange (SLE: 000415) and 30% owned by ORIX Aviation Systems, a subsidiary of ORIX Corporation which is listed on the Tokyo and New York Stock Exchanges (TSE: 8591; NYSE: IX). Avolon is the world’s second largest aircraft leasing business with an owned, managed and committed fleet, as of 31 December 2021 of 824 aircraft.

About Vertical Aerospace
Vertical Aerospace is pioneering electric aviation. The company was founded in 2016 by Stephen Fitzpatrick, an established entrepreneur best known as the founder of the Ovo Group, a leading energy and technology group and Europe’s largest independent energy retailer. Over the past five years, Vertical has focused on building the most experienced and senior team in the eVTOL industry, who have over 1,700 combined years of engineering experience, and have certified and supported over 30 different civil and military aircraft and propulsion systems.

Vertical’s top-tier partner ecosystem is expected to de-risk operational execution and its pathway to certification allows for a lean cost structure and enables production at scale. Vertical has a market-leading pre-order book (by value) for a total of up to 1,350 aircraft from American Airlines, Avolon, Bristow and Iberojet, which includes conditional pre-order options from Virgin Atlantic and Marubeni, and in doing so, is creating multiple potential near term and actionable routes to market.

About AirAsia Aviation Group Ltd (AAAGL)
AAAGL is the holding company that oversees all airlines in Capital A (formerly AirAsia Group Berhad), as well as related international support functions including AirAsia Consulting, shared corporate services division AirAsia SEA, the Santan food group and the ground handling services joint venture business called GTR.

About Capital A
Capital A is an investment holding company with a portfolio of synergistic travel and lifestyle businesses that leverage data and technology to deliver the best value at the lowest cost, supported by high quality data and one of Asia’s leading brands that remains committed to serving the underserved.

First published at TravelCommunication.net

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Time to End US Pre-Departure Testing for Fully Vaccinated Travelers

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Time to End US Pre-Departure Testing for Fully Vaccinated Travelers - TRAVELINDEXGeneva, Switzerland, February 8, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / The International Air Transport Association (IATA), in partnership with Airlines for America (A4A) and 28 US and international aviation and travel and tourism stakeholder groups, urged the US government to remove the pre-departure testing requirement for fully vaccinated air travelers flying to the US.

The vaccinated traveler population adds no additional risks to the domestic US population. Increased immunity levels, the pervasiveness of COVID-19 in all 50 US states, rising vaccination rates and new therapeutics, all point to removing the testing requirement for fully vaccinated travelers.

“The experience of Omicron has made it clear that travel restrictions have little to no impact in terms of preventing its spread. Moreover, as Omicron is already broadly present across the US, fully vaccinated travelers bring no extra risk to the local population. International travelers should face no additional screening requirements than what is applied to domestic travel. In fact, at this stage of the pandemic, travel should be managed in the same way as access to shopping malls, restaurants or offices,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.

More than 74.3 million people — meaning at least 22% of the US population — have had COVID-19, and that is almost certainly an undercount owing to asymptomatic infections and limited testing early in the pandemic. When combined with an adult population that is 74% fully vaccinated, it is clear that the US is developing very high levels of population immunity.

The organizations also noted that the EU has recommended that its member states remove COVID-19 travel restrictions for travel within the EU, and the United Kingdom has announced the removal of COVID-19 pre-departure testing for vaccinated air travellers to enter the country. The UK concluded that the cost to both passengers and airlines of the testing mandate could no longer be justified as there was no evidence the regime protected the population from COVID-19.

Recent research by Oxera and Edge Health in Italy, Finland, and the UK all support the conclusion that travel measures do little to control the spread of COVID-19 when it is already broadly present in the local population. The studies found that, if implemented at a very early stage, travel restrictions may at best delay the peak of a new wave by a few days and marginally reduce the number of cases.

Furthermore, IATA’s most recent air traveler survey showed that 62% of respondents support removing a testing requirement for those who are fully vaccinated.

“Removing the pre-departure testing requirement for fully vaccinated travelers will greatly support the recovery of travel and aviation in the US and globally without increasing the spread of COVID-19 and its variants in the US population. There is no use in closing the barn door after the horse has bolted,” said Walsh.

First published at TravelCommunication.net

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

IATA Welcomes ICAO Health Master List Critical Enabler of One ID

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IATA Welcomes ICAO Health Master List Critical Enabler of One ID - TRAVELINDEX - AIRLINEHUB.comGeneva, Switzerland, February 5, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / The International Air Transport Association welcomed the creation by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) of a global directory of public keys required for authentication of health credentials. The directory—called the Health Master List (HML)—will make a significant contribution to the global recognition and verification (interoperability) of government issued health credentials.

A public key enables third parties to verify that a QR code displayed on a health credential is authentic and valid. The HLM is a compilation of public key certificates signed by ICAO and regularly updated as more health proofs are issued and new public keys are required. Its implementation will ease the global recognition of health credentials outside of the jurisdiction in which they were issued.

“For international travel today, it is critical that COVID-19 health passes can be efficiently verified outside of their country of issuance. While the keys for verification are available individually, the creation of a directory will significantly cut complexity, simplify operations and improve trust in the verification process. We encourage all states to submit their public health keys to the HLM,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.

The sharing of public keys used to perform this verification does not involve any exchange of or access to personal information. The HML is available on the ICAO website. All states can upload their public keys and download those of other governments.

Through a pilot project associated with the HML, private sector providers of solutions for governments to verify health credentials will also be able access these keys. This will help facilitate the broadest coverage of health certificates in their offerings as international travel continues to ramp-up. IATA will participate in this pilot program to support the deployment of the IATA Travel Pass.

A Step Forward for One ID

The air transport industry’s interest in this type of directory goes beyond the COVID-19 crisis.

“COVID-19 Health Certificates must be removed as we progress towards overall travel normalization and industry recovery. But we must retain and build on the operational experience of verifying certificates globally. That includes securely sharing access to public keys with private sector solution providers. This will help to drive progress for contactless verification of traveler identities for which similar keys are needed. ​​We cannot under-estimate how important this will be for the implementation of One ID which has the potential to dramatically simplify travel,” said Walsh.

One ID uses digital identity management and biometric technologies to streamline travel by eliminating repetitive checks of paper documents. The contactless checking of travel health credentials is advancing the experience needed to operationalize One ID. The challenge is the same: universal recognition of verified digital credentials irrespective of the jurisdiction in which they were issued, or the standard used. The successful sharing of public keys to verify COVID-19 health certificates will demonstrate that similar keys for digital identity documents can also be securely and efficiently be collected and shared, including with private sector solution providers.

First published at TravelCommunication.net

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

IATA: Travel Restrictions Had Little or No Impact on Spread of Omicron

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IATA: Travel Restrictions Had Little or No Impact on Spread of Omicron

Brussels, Belgium, February 3, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / ACI Europe (Airports Council International) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) urged European Governments to lift all travel restrictions for fully vaccinated/recovered individuals holding a valid Covid Certificate – as advised by the new regime for travel within the EU which comes into force today.

This new regime, set out by an EU Council Recommendation adopted on 25 January, is based on the health status of travellers, rather than the epidemiological situation of their country or area of origin.

Independent research (see link in notes below) conducted in Finland and Italy provides insight into developing a Europe-wide policy for removing restrictions. The research made public today confirms the validity of the traveler-centric approach, highlighting the inefficiency of recent travel restrictions imposed by European countries in mitigating the risks to public health and society posed by COVID-19.

New analysis produced by Oxera and Edge Health reveals that pre-departure testing requirements are likely to be ineffective at stopping or even limiting the spread of the Omicron variant. The analysis of testing restrictions imposed by Italy and Finland on 16 December and 28 December 2021 respectively on all incoming travellers made no distinguishable difference to transmission of Omicron cases in those countries. Conversely, the impact of these restrictions, and in particular the limitations to the free movement of people, resulted in significant and unnecessary economic hardship – not just for the travel and tourism sectors and their workforce, but for the whole European economy.

Crucially, the report also shows that:

– Maintaining pre-departure testing requirements for vaccinated/recovered travellers further will have no impact whatsoever on the future spread of the Omicron variant in Italy and Finland.
– Imposing these restrictions earlier – i.e. on the very day the Omicron variant was identified as an issue by the WHO – would not have stopped its spread nor significantly limited it in Italy and Finland. This is inherent to the fact that variants circulate well ahead of the time by which they are identified, which is the reason why both the WHO and ECDC generally consider travel restrictions to be ineffective.

The fact that both countries are now lifting their pre-departure testing requirements is very welcome. However, concerns remain that:

– Both countries could have lifted them much earlier or altogether avoided imposing them in the first place – lessons must be learned to avoid repeated economic damage with no attendant public health benefit.
– While Finland has lifted restrictions for all incoming vaccinated/recovered travelers, Italy has done so only for incoming travelers from within the EU/EEA. This now needs to extend to all incoming travelers, as there is no health safety benefit in delaying this step any longer.

With the coming into force today of the new regime for intra-EU/EEA travel, and in light of the robust data now made public, ACI EUROPE and IATA urge those countries which continue to deviate from the common EU framework to rapidly align with it. Specifically, we call upon the Governments of Austria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Lithuania and Malta to address this issue as a matter of urgency and abandon unnecessary and damaging restrictions.

In addition, there are no compelling reasons why vaccinated/recovered travellers should be subjected to a different regime whether they travel within the EU/EEA or come from other countries. It is now urgent that the EU Council aligns its outdated Recommendation for travel into the EU (from third countries) with the new regime for intra-EU/EEA travel that comes into force today.

“The new regime for intra-EU/EEA travel is right to focus on a ‘person-based approach’ and to recognise that both vaccinated and recovered travellers should not be subjected to any restriction. But having common EU regimes has so far not prevented States from going their own way. This must stop. We now have further proof – travel restrictions do have a significant effect – but it’s not on public health, it’s on economic stability and livelihoods. In short: they are causing more harm than good,” said Olivier Jankovec, ACI EUROPE Director General.

“The research is clear that the inevitable delay in identifying new variants means that transmission already occurs by the time travel restrictions are imposed. It’s the classic case of closing the stable door after the horse has bolted. Keeping testing in place for vaccinated passengers therefore seems completely ineffective from the health point of view, but damages passenger confidence and national economies. This latest research should give governments confidence to implement the EU recommendation in full, enabling Europe to get moving again,” said Conrad Clifford, IATA Deputy Director General.

First published at TravelCommunication.net

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

AirAsia Group Changes Name to Capital A

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AirAsia Group Changes Name to Capital A - TRAVELINDEX - AIRLINEHUB.comKuala Lumpur, Malaysia, January 31, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / AirAsia Group Berhad has today announced a name change for the group holding company to become Capital A Berhad (Capital A or the Group). The name change reflects the Group’s new core business strategy as an investment holding company with a portfolio of synergistic travel and lifestyle businesses, which have rapidly transformed the AirAsia brand into much more than just an airline.

CEO of Capital A, Tony Fernandes said: “This is not just about unveiling a new logo. It’s a significant milestone that marks a new era for the Group. Today’s announcement reinforces we are not just an airline anymore.

“While the airline will always underpin the AirAsia brand, it has long been my firm intention, well before Covid hit, to leverage the strong data we have built up over 20 years and incorporate industry-leading new technologies to offer a broad range of products and services, over and above selling just airfares. The pandemic has allowed us to accelerate that strategy.

“Our brand has continuously evolved based on driving innovation and meeting ever changing consumer demand. The strategy behind the change of name is to introduce a new corporate identity that better reflects the Group’s core businesses today and its future undertakings, in tandem with our rapid transformation from an airline into a one-stop digital travel and lifestyle services group. We believe that the new company name will also further enhance the marketability of our products and boost the success of our Group for the long haul.

“Essentially Capital A is an investment company with a broad portfolio of businesses which all deliver the best value at the lowest cost, supported by strong data built up over two decades. We also have one of Asia’s leading brands to ride on, a strong people-first culture and an underlying promise of remaining committed to serving the underserved in all that we do. Just like what the airline has done from day one, all of our different lines of business will deliver the same strategy that is underscored by doing what we do best – making travel and everyday lifestyle services affordable, accessible and inclusive to all.

“We are now delivering more products and services under one umbrella than any other brand in Asean and with access to over 700 million people in the region, I foresee incredible growth opportunities for our brand across many different industries in all of our core markets.

“We have 16 products and services on our airasia Super App, providing not only the best value flight and travel deals but also everyday lifestyle needs, from food to retail and e-commerce, to same day delivery, ride hailing and much more. We are already one of the top three online travel agents (OTAs) in Asean and our super app is on track to become the leading lifestyle app in the region very soon.

“All of our portfolio businesses are well on the way to becoming industry leaders in their respective fields across Southeast Asia, including BigPay, our aircraft engineering division Asia Digital Engineering (ADE) and logistics venture Teleport.

“We already have over 50 million monthly unique visitors on our super app which has been recognised as a tech unicorn in under two years, our fintech business BigPay, has been given a significant injection of USD $100million from South Korea conglomerate SK Group and overall we have raised over RM2.5 billion to date through our fundraising strategy. Following strong consumer and investor support for our transformation strategy, we now set our sights on further capital raising initiatives for the airasia Super App, Teleport and ADE which will be announced in due course.”

On the airline, Tony commented: “While Capital A will be the new Group holding company name, one thing that isn’t changing is the AirAsia brand name for our airlines. It’s one of the strongest brands in Asia and provides a solid platform for all of our other products and services to leverage from each other.

“Even though the last two years have been the most difficult and disrupted years in the history of commercial aviation, I welcome the year ahead with much greater confidence. Domestic air travel has already started to rebound in our key markets. While there may be some delays for international flights to return to pre-Covid levels due to the Omicron variant, I believe this will be short-lived as many global health experts are also predicting, alongside accelerated vaccines and booster shots as well as the world gradually learning to live with Covid. I am hopeful borders will reopen gradually throughout 2022 and we will see a return to normal capacity for our international services by the middle to third quarter of this year.

“Over the past two years we have spent the downturn in flying building a solid foundation for a viable and successful future, which is not solely reliant on airfares alone. Capital A signals an exciting new era for our airlines and all of our other portfolio businesses within the Group as we embark on a significant new growth phase.

“Importantly, the best is yet to come. We have pivoted, we have transformed and we have a five year plan in place which will see non airline revenues contributing around 50 percent of overall Group revenue by 2026. Once the airlines return to pre-Covid levels in the near future all of our other lines of business will benefit significantly and will all soar to new heights in tandem with one another.”

By 2026 Capital A aims to achieve amongst others:
– Group airlines connecting over 1 billion people in Asean.
– The engineering division (ADE) becomes an industry leader for maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services in Southeast Asia.
– airasia Super App to be the super app of choice in Asean.
– 10 million monthly active users for BigPay.
– 10% market share in Southeast Asia for Teleport, in the logistics and e-commerce industry.
– 5 million sign ups for edutech arm AirAsia Academy.
– Over 21 million monthly orders on airasia grocer.

The new holding company name, Capital A, is immediately effective following the successful registration of the name by the Companies Commision of Malaysia announced on January 3 and the subsequent formal approvals received yesterday.

The name change from AirAsia Group Berhad to Capital A Berhad will not have any effect on the Company’s ongoing operations. The AirAsia stock name on the main Board of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad will change with immediate effect to reflect the new company name.

About Capital A – capitala.airasia.com
Capital A is an investment holding company with a portfolio of synergistic travel and lifestyle businesses that leverage data and technology to deliver the best value at the lowest cost, supported by high quality data and one of Asia’s leading brands that remains committed to serving the underserved.

First published at TravelCommunication.net

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News