Industry news

Australia scraps plan to build runway in Antarctica

Facilities

The Australian Government has abandoned plans to build a 2.7km runway at its Davis research station in Antarctica, after an environmental and economic assessment.

In 2018, Australia unveiled plans to build the paved runway to boost its Antarctic Program.

Instead, the government is currently considering investments to strengthen Australia’s scientific research and environmental programmes in Antarctica.

The government said that its Australian Antarctic Program will continue to run its intercontinental ice runway at Wilkins Aerodrome later this year with maritime support from RSV Nuyina, an icebreaking research and supply vessel that is currently based in Hobart.

airlines

AWS to serve as Cloud provider for United Airlines

American air carrier United Airlines has turned to Amazon subsidiary Amazon Web Services (AWS) for helping drive digital innovation as its preferred Cloud provider.

The airline will receive capabilities for machine learning, the Internet of things, databases, analytics, computing, storage, and security from AWS.

Currently, United Airlines has deployed several AWS solutions to enhance their customers’ interaction with the airline.

The carrier has recently introduced new features in its app and digital channels in order to aid customers in understanding Covid-19 travel curbs.

airports

Vinci and Limak look at concession to operate AYT

France-based construction company Vinci, along with Turkey’s Limak Holding, is reportedly looking to bid for a 25-year concession to run Antalya International Airport (AYT) in Turkey.

Turkey’s General Directorate of State Airports Authority has received an expression of interest from both companies, reported Bloomberg.

On 1 December, a new tender will be floated for managing the airport.

As of now, Germany’s Fraport and Turkey’s TAV Havalimanlari Holding are responsible for the operations of Antalya Airport.

SUSTAINABILITY

LLA secures international carbon accreditation

London Luton Airport (LLA) in the UK has attained Level 3 of the Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) scheme after implementing various sustainable measures.

As an international carbon management framework for airports, the ACA Scheme is overseen by Airport Council International.

This framework aims to minimise CO₂ emissions across all airport operations, including from airport infrastructure to airlines, ground handlers, surface access providers and retailers.

Towards the end of 2019, LLA joined the ACA and moved to Level 3 in a span of 18 months after partnering with key investors for developing a strategy to lower emissions at the airport.

Airports

FCO unveils new airport operations centre

Aeroporti di Roma has opened a new airport operations centre (APOC) room at Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport (FCO) in Rome, Italy.

Covering nearly 1,900m², APOC has been built at a cost of more than $22m (€20m) and was partly funded by the EU.

The facility comprises 16 control rooms, 112 workstations, and a single work area to allow major airports’ primary stakeholders to manage all operations of the airport.

It has been equipped with advanced technologies that are claimed to ensure operational continuity, even during cybersecurity attacks and other critical issues.

The APOC will facilitate real-time monitoring of travellers both inside and outside the terminals, as well as baggage handling in the two sorting systems.

operation

Dnata to manage new terminal at ZNZ

Dubai-based air services provider dnata has reached a concession agreement with the Government of Zanzibar to run the operations of the newly built international Terminal 3 of Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ) in Tanzania.

Other partners in the agreement are Emirates Leisure Retail and SEGAP.

An Egis and AIIM-owned company, SEGAP will provide management support to the Zanzibar Airports Authority.

Meanwhile, Emirates Leisure Retail will forge an alliance with MMI as the master concessionaire for all food and beverage, duty-free and commercial outlets at the terminal.

Airline customers at ZNZ will also receive ground and passenger handling services from dnata.

dnata intends to manage more than 4,000 flights at ZNZ a year.

In brief

Seoul Robotics and Evitado partner for aviation collision avoidance solution

Seoul Robotics has entered a partnership with Evitado to deliver a collision avoidance solution for the aviation industry.

CRA to deploy IDSS baggage screening systems

Mira Technologies Group has selected Integrated Defense and Security Solutions (IDSS) for the installation of its DETECT™ 1000 Advanced Computed Tomography Checkpoint systems at Craiova International Airport (CRA) in Craiova, Romania.

Garuda Indonesia and Singapore Airlines strengthen ties

Singapore Airlines has formed an alliance with Garuda Indonesia to offer an improved travel experience for passengers and additional options amid increasing air traffic between nations.

Emirates and airBaltic sign codeshare pact

Dubai-based carrier Emirates has formed a codeshare alliance with Latvia-based airBaltic to provide improved connectivity to and from Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, and Finland.

CVG opts for TaskWatch’s computer vision tech

Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) in the US has collaborated with process automation firm TaskWatch and AWS Panorama for deploying custom computer vision applications to boost operational efficiency.

airlines

Ryanair to launch new base at FNC

Low-cost carrier Ryanair is set to open a new operational base at Madeira Airport (FNC) in Portugal, involving a $200m investment, in the third quarter of 2022.

This marks the airline’s fifth base in Portugal, where two new aircraft will be based.

As part of this initiative, around ten new routes will be introduced, with 40 new weekly frequencies.

Five of the new routes will link Madeira directly to new destinations.

Airlines

Air Canada signs settlement agreement over refunding

The US Department of Transportation’s (USDOT’s) Office of Aviation Consumer Protection (OACP) has reached a $4.5m agreement with Air Canada to resolve complaints regarding delays in refunding airfares.

In June, OACP filed a complaint against Air Canada, highlighting the carrier’s failure to provide timely refunds to passengers for their tickets that were cancelled or ‘significantly changed’ from or to the US.

In its complaint, OACP sought $25.5m as a penalty from Air Canada for the delay in refunds.

The settlement agreement struck in this context will now have to be approved by the Administrative Law Judge.