Industry news

Heathrow plans to recover Covid losses grounded by CAA

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28 April | AIRPORT

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has turned down Heathrow’s proposal to raise airport charges to cover its £2.6bn losses during the pandemic.

The UK’s aviation regulator termed the request as ‘disproportionate’ that is ‘not in the interests of consumers', as it believes London Heathrow would have upped charges by 10%.

Instead, the CAA has authorised a smaller increase of £300m, allowing the airport to finance the reopening of terminals with the recovery of passenger traffic, adding around 30p for each passenger.

While rejecting Heathrow’s bid, the CAA addressed that the present conditions are ‘exceptional’ and will pose potential risks for passengers in the short term.

For recovering losses, the airport had requested for an instant increase in its regulated asset base figure by £800m ($1.1bn) and by a total of £2.6bn ($3.61bn) by the end of this year.

However, the regulator noted that the problems raised by Heathrow could be considered in the upcoming review of charging levels at the airport.

Commenting on the decision of the CAA, Heathrow said that the aviation regulator ‘failed to deliver’, even after acknowledging its issues.

Expressing ‘deep frustration’ at the CAA’s decision, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) director Willie Walsh said that the CAA has ‘caved to pressure from Heathrow’, which will not be in favour of the consumers.

Heathrow reported a £2bn loss in 2020, and passenger numbers fell to 22.1 million, a 73% slump compared to the previous year.

Main image: Heathrow Airport passenger numbers have nowhere near recovered. Credit: Colin Moses / Shutterstock

21 April | Covid-19

LAX brings on board one hour test to fight Covid

Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) in the US announced that Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) added a new polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test to its Covid-19 testing options, which will provide results in less than an hour.

Developed by Visby, the PCR test, which costs $199 (£143), can be found at the Tom Bradley International Terminal and at ticket counters on the departures Level.

In addition to PCR tests, there are other Covid-19 tests that are being offered for sale at several locations throughout the airport, but the PCR test provides the quickest results.

Depending on the location, the other tests provide results in either three to five hours or within 24 hours.

LAWA CEO Justin Erbacci said: “We continue to see strong demand for fast and accurate Covid-19 testing at LAX, which is helping passengers travel safely and opening up more destinations to them.

“By adding a one-hour rapid PCR test, LAX is once again leading the way in airport innovation and guest service, and providing travellers with access to dependable and accurate rapid testing solutions that meet their timing needs.”

Hawaii state and a number of international destinations, which are required to have negative Covid-19 test results to travel, accept the new rapid PCR test, meaning passengers can get the medical all-clear when they arrive at the airport.

21 April | Covid-19

Vaccine passport gets stamp of approval from Etihad Airways

Etihad Airways has begun trialling vaccine passports on a series of transatlantic flights to help smooth the transition for passengers and crew.

The UAE national airline has begun trialling International Air Transport Association (IATA) Travel Pass on flights from Abu Dhabi to Chicago, New York and Washington in the US and Toronto, Canada.

From now until 31 May, passengers can use the IATA Travel Pass application to easily manage their travel health credentials.

IATA Travel Pass is a digital platform for passengers that includes four open-sourced and interoperable modules, that provides information regarding the travel, testing and vaccine requirements for a journey.

The IATA Travel Pass will act as a ‘digital passport’ to receive Covid-19 test results and verify whether passengers are eligible to travel.

It will keep the passengers’ data safe and allows them to share their test reports with airlines and authorities for travel.

IATA Airport, Passenger, Cargo and Security senior vice-president Nick Careen said: “Etihad Airways trial of IATA Travel Pass will help build confidence among governments and travellers that digital health apps can safely, securely and conveniently help restart aviation.

“The app gives travellers a one-stop-shop to help them comply with the new rules for travel and for governments complete assurance in the identity of the passenger and the authenticity of the travel credentials being presented.”

26 April | WORKFORCE

Air traffic control shift planned down under

Airservices Australia (AA) is considering shifting around 65 air traffic controllers from its terminal control unit at Sydney Airport to Melbourne.

Given the financial strain faced by the aviation industry due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the firm believes that this 900km (560 miles) shift is necessary for ‘more cost-efficient solutions.’

According to the proposal, the relocation will aid in averting the costs of substantial infrastructure replacement in Sydney.

The building where the air traffic controllers are installed in Sydney Airport is coming close to the end of its life and the possibility of the extension of the long-term lease beyond 2034 is not guaranteed.

The shift is expected to directly impact 65 air traffic controllers in Sydney, but according to the firm, a pool of skilled professionals is available at its larger facility in Melbourne.

Sydney Airport’s terminal control unit manages planes arriving at and departing from Bankstown, Richmond and Camden airports, in coordination with control towers at each of these sites.

The decision about the relocation, which is expected to take nearly two years to complete, is due to be finalised by AA in June.

Terminal control services for Canberra, Adelaide, Gold Coast and Cairns have been consolidated in Brisbane and Melbourne over the last 20 years.

23 April | Covid-19

Luton Airport opens wider for Covid-19 testing

London Luton Airport (LLA) has increased the amount of space it is dedicating to fight Covid-19, by opening a new in-terminal testing facility.

The airport, in Bedfordshire, already turned part of their mid-term car park into a drive-through testing facility.

But the opening of the new centre will boost the testing capacity of the airport, as the government plans to resume international travelling.

The airport opened the new facility in collaboration with travel Covid-19 testing provider Collinson.

LLA already has an existing drive-through facility located in the mid-term car park, while the opening of the new centre will boost the testing capacity of the airport.

Both the facilities are equipped to conduct a full range of government-approved Covid-19 tests.

LLA operations director Neil Thompson said: “Opening this in-terminal testing centre at LLA will offer access to all the necessary travel testing solutions, providing passengers further confidence in their ability to travel safely.

“This is another vital step in our preparations to kick-start our recovery once restrictions are lifted.”

The facilities are capable of conducting 144 tests an hour and can ramp up if demand surges.

Separately, Cardiff Airport in Wales also announced the opening of a Covid-19 testing service. The centre, located in the arrivals hall of the terminal, was opened in partnership with Nuffield Health.

27 April | Security

‘Zombie’ battery screening technology

Threat detection and security screening technologies provider Smiths Detection has introduced new technology to find ‘zombie’ batteries in air cargo – because they can explode if damaged.

Smiths Detection’s new algorithm for its dual-view air cargo and checked-baggage screening system, named HI-SCAN 10080 EDX-2is, detects the potentially explosive lithium batteries.

The algorithm will enable the machines to automatically detect lithium batteries in all freight and baggage during the screening process for explosives.

Lithium batteries are nicknamed ‘zombie’ batteries because they can explode or set on fire if damaged, often without any external stimuli.

By means of classical material discrimination and deep learning, iCMORE enables automatic detection of hazardous possessions and weapons throughout its conventional x-ray and EDS technologies.

Smiths Detection aviation global director Richard Thompson said: “We are continually striving to develop new technologies to ensure the safety of people globally. Harnessing the power of deep learning is crucial in further developing object recognition algorithms.

“This new technology has been developed by working with our customers to capture thousands of X-ray images to then be analysed by the new algorithm so it can learn to detect lithium batteries based on shape. This algorithm will provide the powerful detection of lithium batteries while increasing efficiency and speed for users.”

27 April | Cargo

Menzies Aviation to take over Baghdad airport handling duties

Aviation logistics specialist Menzies Aviation has launched cargo operations at Baghdad International Airport in Iraq.

Menzies Aviation said that this marked the first licence of its kind secured by a foreign aviation services player from the ICAA.

The scheme, named MASIL, is a joint venture between Menzies Aviation, Iraqi Airways, Al Burhan Group and Air BP.

After securing the contract from the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority (ICAA), MASIL started operations at Baghdad International Airport in January.

The contract makes MASIL responsible for providing comprehensive ground handling, cargo and fuelling services at the airport.

Cargo services will be provided to clients, including Emirates, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, DHL, MNG Airlines, Silk Way Airlines, Egypt Air and flydubai, among others, by a 65-member MASIL team.

These workers will undertake Menzies Aviation cargo training modules, covering safety management, dangerous goods, security and specialised handling techniques under the Cargo Go Live initiative.

For the development of a cargo centre at the airport, MASIL will take measures to improve the security and sustainability of operations, along with compliance.

Menzies Aviation Middle East, Asia and Africa executive vice-president Charles Wyley said: “We are delighted that our cargo operations have now gone live at Baghdad International Airport, following a lot of hard work and dedication from MASIL.”

29 April | Travel

Covid hit India was top travel destination from Dubai

Dubai International Airport (DXB) sent more than 1.3 million travellers to India this year, despite a two-thirds slump in passenger numbers.

The hub airport reported passenger traffic of 5.75 million in the first quarter of 2021, a 67.8% slump from the same period in 2020 that largely escaped the jitters of the Covid-19-induced turbulence.

The operator stated that travel curbs by airlines and airports globally amid a spike in Covid-19 cases were placed only towards the end of March last year.

With around 1.3 million traffic, India retained its spot as DXB’s top destination country, and the top three cities served by the airport, New Delhi, Dhaka and Addis Ababa, saw more than two million passengers in March alone.

By the end of Q1 2021, the airport provided services to around 63% of the stops in 89% of the countries via 74% of the carriers, in comparison with the period before the pandemic.

However, the operator noted that the airport is gradually recovering in passenger numbers and cargo volumes.

Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths said: “Despite the ongoing challenges to air travel as the world continues to battle against the impact of the global pandemic, as an important hub, DXB will continue to play its role of enabling mobility and connectivity and contribute to the much needed social and economic recovery globally.”

In brief

Albania opens Kukes International Airport

Albania has opened its second international airport in Kukes, with the arrival of the first passenger flight operated by Air Albania. Arriving from London, the passenger flight initially landed in Tirana International Airport to pick up Prime Minister Edi Rama for the inauguration of the new international airport, named Kukes International Airport, about 90 miles north-east of Tirana.

RSHP and CNADRI win terminal design competition for Bao’an Airport

Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners (RSHP), in collaboration with China Northeast Architectural Design and Research Institute (CNADRI), has emerged victorious in the design contest for Terminal 4 at Bao’an International Airport, Shenzhen, China. The project involves the construction of a new 400,000m² terminal building, comprising 60 new stands and connections, and will have the capacity to handle nearly 31 million passengers annually.

Colossal bid to buy handling services

National Aviation Services, Colossal Africa and a consortium of the existing executive management team have agreed to buy South African ground handling firm BidAir Services from Bidvest Group. Services include passenger handling, ramp handling, load control and operations, and cleaning, as well as toilet and water services at nine South African airports, making it the largest ground handling firm in the country.

Ventus and Sky Logistica pick up air cargo infrastructure company Skyport

Ventus and Sky Logistica have acquired Prague-based air cargo infrastructure company Skyport, which processes more than half of all air cargo passing through Prague airport. Skyport is claimed to be the leading cargo handler in the Czech Republic. US-based Ventus CEO Andy Popovich said: “The last twelve months have proved the importance of air cargo infrastructure as a strategic component of global trade.”

Cambodia gets online

Cambodia Airports has selected Spanish IT solutions provider Amadeus’ Cloud platform Amadeus Flow to meet the needs of travellers. The integrated modular airport cloud platform will allow Cambodia Airports, which operates the kingdom’s three international airports, to harness the cloud and offer passenger services from any location of its choice.

27 April | Cargo

Menzies Aviation to take over Baghdad airport handling duties

Aviation logistics specialist Menzies Aviation has launched cargo operations at Baghdad International Airport in Iraq.

Menzies Aviation said that this marked the first licence of its kind secured by a foreign aviation services player from the ICAA.

The scheme, named MASIL, is a joint venture between Menzies Aviation, Iraqi Airways, Al Burhan Group and Air BP.

After securing the contract from the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority (ICAA), MASIL started operations at Baghdad International Airport in January.

The contract makes MASIL responsible for providing comprehensive ground handling, cargo and fuelling services at the airport.

Cargo services will be provided to clients including Emirates, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, DHL, MNG Airlines, Silk Way Airlines, Egypt Air and flydubai, among others, by a 65-member MASIL team.

These workers will undertake Menzies Aviation cargo training modules, covering safety management, dangerous goods, security and specialised handling techniques under the Cargo Go Live initiative.

For the development of a cargo centre at the airport, MASIL will take measures to improve the security and sustainability of operations, along with compliance.

Menzies Aviation Middle East, Asia and Africa executive vice-president Charles Wyley said: “We are delighted that our cargo operations have now gone live at Baghdad International Airport, following a lot of hard work and dedication from MASIL.”

29 April | Travel

Covid-hit India was top travel destination from Dubai

Dubai International Airport (DXB) sent more than 1.3 million travellers to India this year, despite a two-thirds slump in passenger numbers.

The hub airport reported passenger traffic of 5.75 million in the first quarter of 2021, a 67.8% slump from the same period in 2020 that largely escaped the jitters of the Covid-19-induced turbulence.

The operator stated that travel curbs by airlines and airports globally amid a spike in Covid-19 cases were placed only towards the end of March last year.

With around 1.3 million in traffic, India retained its spot as DXB’s top destination country, followed by Pakistan, Bangladesh and Russia, with other notable destination countries including Egypt and Turkey.

The top three cities served by the airport were New Delhi, Dhaka and Addis Ababa, and of the total passenger traffic in Q1 2021, more than two million travelled there in March alone.

Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths said: “Despite the ongoing challenges to air travel as the world continues to battle against the impact of the global pandemic, as an important hub, DXB will continue to play its role of enabling mobility and connectivity and contribute to the much needed social and economic recovery globally.”

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