Industry news

Canada announces mandatory Covid-19 tests for international passengers

4 January | Covid-19

The Government of Canada has announced that pre-departure Covid-19 testing and proof of negative results are now mandatory for all air passengers arriving in Canada as of 7 January 2021.

The aim of the mandatory Covid-19 testing is to curb the spread of the coronavirus in Canada.

Despite the new rules, air passengers will still have to submit to the compulsory 14-day quarantine period before being permitted to move freely around the country.

The Canadian Government declared on its website that ‘not respecting the mandatory requirements is a serious offence’ and offenders will have to face consequences and penalties.

Within 72 hours of their departure, all travellers above the age of five will be required to take a coronavirus molecular polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test.

Before boarding, passengers must present their negative test results, with written or electronic proof, to the airlines.

The test must be provided by an accredited lab or an ‘external organisation’ like a local government, stated the Government of Canada on its website.

In the absence of a negative PCR test, passengers will not be allowed to board flights within Canada, unless otherwise exempt.

Travellers arriving from countries where PCR testing is unavailable will be required to report to a designated quarantined zone run by the Public Health Agency of Canada. All passengers will be responsible for paying for the PCR tests themselves.

Travellers have also been advised by federal officials to procure travel insurance, with insurance plans covering all medical expenditures.

Main story image credit: Getty / Yuliana Toala / EyeEm.

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30 DECEMber | Deal

Adani Group to take over Jaipur, Guwahati, Thiruvananthapuram airports from AAI

The Airports Authority of India (AAI), which maintains the country’s civil aviation infrastructure, is set to hand over Jaipur, Guwahati and Thiruvananthapuram airports to the Adani Group.

AAI chairman Arvind Singh confirmed that the signing of the concession agreement will take place by 25 January 2021.

Adani Group previously secured bids to operate six AAI airports for 50 years on a purchasing power parity (PPP) basis.

In August this year, the group assumed the responsibilities of operations, management and development of airports at Mangaluru, Lucknow and Ahmedabad from the AAI.

In addition to these six airports, AIA is looking to operate more airports on PPP basis. The list includes names of Varanasi, Amritsar, Bhubaneswar, Raipur, Indore and Trichy airports.

In September this year, the AAI announced plans to upgrade runways at seven airports including Jammu, Kolhapur, Jabalpur, Barapani, Kadapa and Tirupati.

In September, AAI made an investment of Rs12.17bn ($165.6m) for the modernisation and upgrade of Patna Airport in the state of Bihar.

Meanwhile, the Adani Group is set to take over Mumbai International Airport and the upcoming Navi Mumbai Airport, following its purchase of a controlling stake from current promoter GVK Group.

With seven functional airports and an upcoming one in its portfolio, the group is said to become the biggest private airport operator in the country with connection to the number of airports handled.

29 December | AIRPORT

Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport reopens renovated Runway-1

Sheremetyevo International Airport (SIA) in Moscow, Russia has commissioned its newly renovated Runway-1, which is expected to increase the airport’s capacity to serve about 110 million passengers per year.

The new runway consists of two new high-speed-exit taxiways.

The reconstruction of the runway, which was a part of the airport’s Long-term Development Programme, was completed at a cost of more than $114m.

The project was financed directly, and investments made under the concession agreement terms will be recovered from the take-off and landing fees levied to aircraft.

SIA board of director’s chairman Alexander Ponomarenko said: “We were able to do the reconstruction of Runway-1, which is an important stage in the development of the airfield complex thanks to the current concession agreement between the government, represented by Rosaviatsia, and Sheremetyevo airport.

“As a result, today we have three runways, which — together with the development of terminal capacity and in the context of normalising passenger traffic volume — provide an opportunity to achieve our strategic goal: serving 110 million passengers per year.”

Construction and installation work was finished within ten months, while the airport was still functioning.

During the construction period, landing and take-off procedures at the airfield were taking place on the existing runways, Runway-2 and Runway-3.

The new runway is about 3552.5m long and has a load-bearing segment that is 60m wide.

28 DECEMber | Covid-19

Oman to reopen borders amid new coronavirus strain scare

In view of the new coronavirus strain, the country had closed its borders last week.

As per the new entry requirements issued by the Oman’s Supreme Committee, travellers to Oman will be required to present a negative test report at the airport and possess health insurance.

The test has to be conducted within 72 hours of their entry into the country.

Furthermore, all travellers will be quarantined for seven days and will be required to take another test on their eighth day of stay in Oman.

This comes after the country announced the first phase of vaccinations for its citizens.

On the other hand, Saudi Arabia has extended its commercial flights suspension by at least one week.

In a tweet, Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation stated: ”An official source in the Ministry of Interior said: Extending the suspension of international flights and entering the Kingdom through land and seaports for another week.”

However, the country will permit flights in “exceptional cases”, reported the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

In addition, cargo movement will be permitted and foreigners will be allowed to leave the kingdom.

On 21 December, nations across the Middle East had closed their borders because of the new strain which was discovered in the UK a few days back.

24 December | Covid-19

Singapore Airlines launches digital verification of coronavirus testing

Singapore Airlines (SIA) has commenced trials on a new digital health verification app to verify Covid-19 test results and vaccination status.

The app will enable passengers to store and present information related to Covid-19 tests and vaccination in a secure manner.

It is said to be based on the International Air Transport Association’s Travel Pass framework.

The airline has started the trial with passengers on its flights from Jakarta or Kuala Lumpur.

Passengers who take Covid-19 tests at designated clinics in Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur will receive either digital or paper health certificates with a QR code.

If trials are successful, SIA will consider extending the service to other cities.

By using a secure mobile app, airport check-in staff and Singapore’s immigration authority will be able to check the authenticity of these certificates.

Those without a digital certificate can instead present the paper version for manual verification.

The verification will be enabled by an application developed by tech firm Affinidi.

The process of digital verification is aimed at accelerating the airport check-in process and the immigration entry process into Singapore.

In addition, the carrier also has plans to integrate the entire process into the SingaporeAir mobile app from around mid-2021.

23 December | Routes

Salvador Bahia Airport to commence new routes in Brazil

Salvador Bahia Airport in Brazil has announced its plans to start operations of four new routes in the country.

VINCI Airports, the operator of the airport, stated that this is a milestone as it is the first time in years that Salvador will have regular direct flights to other states in Brazil.

Operated by GOL Linhas Aéreas, the first route will link Salvador and Palmas, while the second route will connect Salvador and Porto Alegre.

The flights will also be available throughout the year.

The airport will also have connectivity to all capitals of the northeast region.

Similarly, flights will also be available throughout the year to Morro de S. Paulo that will be operated by Abaeté Aviação.

Salvador Bahia Airport commercial director Marc Gordien said: “After a very difficult year for world aviation, Salvador Bahia Airport shows its resilience and capacity for recovery. During the process of gradually resuming air travel, we assumed a strategic role as a connectivity centre, taking Bahia to a place of regional prominence in aviation.”

In November, VINCI Airports opened a new freight terminal at Las Américas Airport in the Dominican Republic.

The new terminal, built by VINCI Construction Grands Projects, is expected to support Dominican exports and help in creating a commercial hub.

The terminal is designed to be an environmentally friendly facility that will recycle and reuse all its waste and optimise energy and water consumption.

22 December | Deal

Swissport secures seven-year contract for airport ramp handling services

Ground handler Swissport has secured a seven-year contract from the Lufthansa Group to provide airport ramp handling and passenger services in Switzerland.

According to the contract, Swissport will provide passenger services and airport ramp handling for Lufthansa, Swiss International Air Lines, Austrian Airlines and Edelweiss Air.

It will provide complete hub handling services for Swiss International Air Lines at Zurich Airport, and further services for Lufthansa, Swiss International Air Lines, Austrian Airlines and Edelweiss Air at the airports in Zurich, Geneva and Basel.

Swissport stated that with this agreement, which runs from 1 January 2021 until 31 December 2027, it will secure significant business volumes.

Swiss International Air Lines’ volume represented nearly two-thirds of all flights serviced by Swissport at Zurich Airport in 2019.

Swissport Central and Eastern Europe senior vice-president Willy Ruf said: “Major airlines trust in Swissport as they plan for a post-Covid world and prepare to ramp-up operations in 2021.

“We are thrilled to have won Lufthansa Group’s renewed trust and motivated to get back to work and support them through an operationally smooth return to higher traffic volumes.”

Since SWISS’ first flight in 2002, Swissport has been offering passenger services and ramp handling to the carrier in Switzerland.

SWISS ground operations head Christoph Casparis said: “We are pleased to be able to continue our long-standing partnership with Swissport in the coming years. Competent and smooth passenger care and ground handling are of central importance to our customers and to us, and Swissport is an extremely reliable partner of SWISS and other Lufthansa Group airlines in this area.”Are you worried about the pace of innovation in your industry?

Qantas recently appointed Swissport as its partner to provide ground services at airports in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra, Australia.

The five-year agreement will cover around 70,000 flights a year.

21 December | ROUTES

More than 6,000 air routes in Europe still not restored, reports ACI Europe

Over 6,000 air routes that previously operated from Europe’s airports could not be restored even after nine months into the Covid-19 crisis, according to the 2020 Airport Industry Connectivity Report of Airports Council International (ACI) Europe.

The report revealed the systemic downfall of the aviation network and air connectivity due to the Covid-19 crisis.

EU/UK airports have been badly affected as their direct connectivity almost vanished in April. These airports then experienced a feeble recovery over the peak summer month of August at -55%, before declining again in September to -62%.

As of September, the airports that recorded the sharpest declines in direct connectivity were Madrid-Barajas Adolfo Suárez Airport at -71%, Rome–Fiumicino International Airport at -70%, Munich International Airport at -68%, Heathrow Airport at -68% and Frankfurt Airport at -67%.

Meanwhile, the direct connectivity decreases of the smaller regional airports were recorded at -96% in Linz, -95% at Treviso, -91% at Vaasa, -87% at Quimper, -86% at Newquay, -83% Shannon and -82% at Burgas.

However, direct connectivity at Russian and Turkish airports stood strong because of the size and relative dynamic domestic market.

Due to these factors, there were limited direct connectivity losses for Domodedovo Moscow Airport (-12%), Pulkovo Airport (-26%), Vnukovo International Airport (-28%), and Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (-33%).

According to the report, hub connectivity was even more impacted than direct connectivity as major six European airports recovered only 16% of their hub connectivity by September.

Munich International at -93% and Heathrow Airport at -92%, experienced the steepest losses in hub connectivity, followed by Frankfurt Airport at -89%, Istanbul Airport at -85%, Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport at -81% and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol at -70%.

ACI Europe director general Olivier Jankovec said: “The damage is so systemic that relying solely on market forces to restore air connectivity would not be realistic. The EU and governments across Europe must urgently intervene to help jump-start it. We need a Recovery Framework for aviation that includes ‘Air Connectivity Restart Schemes’ similar to that seen in Cyprus – with temporary financial contributions aimed at supporting the restart of air routes on a non-discriminatory basis.”

In brief

Kigali International Airport launches Covid-19 testing lab

Kigali International Airport in Rwanda’s capital city Kigali has launched a Covid-19 testing laboratory at the airport to ensure all travellers are tested upon arrival. The new testing laboratory was inaugurated by the Ministry of Health of Rwanda on 24 December.

TSA deploys new acrylic barriers at T.F. Green International Airport

US-based T.F. Green International Airport has been equipped with new acrylic barriers at security checkpoints to help prevent the spread of Covid-19. The protective shields were installed by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in areas where its officers usually interact with travellers.

South Korea’s Incheon Airport uses 5G-based AI for coronavirus check

South Korea’s Incheon International Airport is reportedly using mobile edge computing (MEC) technology for coronavirus screening. Yonhap News Agency reported that MEC technology has been deployed to run an artificial intelligence (AI) system, which will check for Covid-19 symptoms at the airport’s arrival and departure halls.

Syracuse Hancock International Airport in US deploys 3D checkpoint scanner

The US TSA at Syracuse Hancock International in New York has started using an advanced computed tomography checkpoint scanner at its security checkpoint. Through its 3D imaging, the new scanner has enhanced capabilities to detect explosives.

Daa files application to amend new North Runway operation

Dublin Airport Authority (daa) has filed an application with Fingal County Council to amend two conditions that will apply to the new North Runway operation and the overall runway arrangement at Dublin Airport after it starts operations.

22 December | Deal

Swissport secures seven-year contract for airport ramp handling services

Ground handler Swissport has secured a seven-year contract from the Lufthansa Group to provide airport ramp handling and passenger services in Switzerland.

According to the contract, Swissport will provide passenger services and airport ramp handling for Lufthansa, Swiss International Air Lines, Austrian Airlines and Edelweiss Air.

It will provide complete hub handling services for Swiss International Air Lines at Zurich Airport, and further services for Lufthansa, Swiss International Air Lines, Austrian Airlines and Edelweiss Air at the airports in Zurich, Geneva and Basel.

Swissport stated that with this agreement, which runs from 1 January 2021 until 31 December 2027, it will secure significant business volumes.

Swiss International Air Lines’ volume represented nearly two-thirds of all flights serviced by Swissport at Zurich Airport in 2019.

Swissport Central and Eastern Europe senior vice-president Willy Ruf said: “Major airlines trust in Swissport as they plan for a post-Covid world and prepare to ramp-up operations in 2021.

“We are thrilled to have won Lufthansa Group’s renewed trust and motivated to get back to work and support them through an operationally smooth return to higher traffic volumes.”

Since SWISS’ first flight in 2002, Swissport has been offering passenger services and ramp handling to the carrier in Switzerland.

SWISS ground operations head Christoph Casparis said: “We are pleased to be able to continue our long-standing partnership with Swissport in the coming years. Competent and smooth passenger care and ground handling are of central importance to our customers and to us, and Swissport is an extremely reliable partner of SWISS and other Lufthansa Group airlines in this area.”

21 DECEmber | Deal

More than 6,000 air routes in Europe still not restored, reports ACI Europe

Over 6,000 air routes that previously operated from Europe’s airports could not be restored even after nine months into the Covid-19 crisis, according to the 2020 Airport Industry Connectivity Report of Airports Council International (ACI) Europe.

The report revealed the systemic downfall of the aviation network and air connectivity due to the Covid-19 crisis.

EU/UK airports have been badly affected as their direct connectivity almost vanished in April. These airports then experienced a feeble recovery over the peak summer month of August at -55%, before declining again in September to -62%.

As of September, the airports that recorded the sharpest declines in direct connectivity were Madrid-Barajas Adolfo Suárez Airport at -71%, Rome–Fiumicino International Airport at -70%, Munich International Airport at -68%, Heathrow Airport at -68% and Frankfurt Airport at -67%.

Meanwhile, the direct connectivity decreases of the smaller regional airports were recorded at -96% in Linz, -95% at Treviso, -91% at Vaasa, -87% at Quimper, -86% at Newquay, -83% Shannon and -82% at Burgas.

However, direct connectivity at Russian and Turkish airports stood strong because of the size and relative dynamic domestic market.

Due to these factors, there were limited direct connectivity losses for Domodedovo Moscow Airport (-12%), Pulkovo Airport (-26%), Vnukovo International Airport (-28%) and Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (-33%).

According to the report, hub connectivity was even more impacted than direct connectivity as major six European airports recovered only 16% of their hub connectivity by September.

Munich International and Heathrow Airport experienced the steepest losses in hub connectivity at -93% at -92%, , followed by Frankfurt Airport at -89%, Istanbul Airport at -85%, Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport at -81% and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol at -70%.

ACI Europe director general Olivier Jankovec said: “The damage is so systemic that relying solely on market forces to restore air connectivity would not be realistic. The EU and governments across Europe must urgently intervene to help jump-start it. We need a Recovery Framework for aviation that includes ‘Air Connectivity Restart Schemes’ similar to that seen in Cyprus – with temporary financial contributions aimed at supporting the restart of air routes on a non-discriminatory basis.”