Industry news
Manchester Airport calls for financial support from UK Government
Credit:
1 March | Finances
The UK’s Manchester Airport has been joined by five other northern airports in urging the government to provide support for the aviation sector in its upcoming budget next week.
Representatives of the airports have also asked the government to develop a cost-effective and realistic system, enabling the resumption of travelling this May.
In a letter to the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the representatives requested direct monetary funding for the protection of the industry until it is fully restored.
The letter was jointly signed by Manchester Airport, Liverpool John Lennon Airport, Leeds Bradford Airport, Newcastle International Airport, Doncaster Sheffield Airport and Carlisle Lake District Airport.
According to the representatives, some of the options that can be considered by the government include relief from fixed expenses paid to the government, a sector-specific expansion of the furlough scheme and a reduction in the travel expenses.
Manchester Airport managing director Karen Smart said: “While this week’s recovery plan from the Prime Minister includes a welcome target for the reopening of our industry, there is still much uncertainty over what this will mean in practice. It could still be many months before our airports begin welcoming passengers back through their doors.
“With airports across the north still facing uncertainty and difficult decisions over the next months, it is absolutely critical that the chancellor recognises the unique impact the pandemic continues to have on aviation when setting out his budget next week.
“Having already lost one summer season, we are now heading towards summer 2021 facing yet another review into how our industry might restart, and the prospect of a system that could continue to restrict travel.
“The recent surge in bookings reported by airlines proves the demand is there, but the government needs to help realise that potential without delay by working with the industry to build on the measures already developed for passenger safety, without further undermining consumer confidence.”
Credit: Manchester Airports Group
25 February | TECHNOLOGY
Aurrigo unveils new autonomous luggage and cargo transport platform
Autonomous vehicle specialist Aurrigo has launched its new autonomous luggage and cargo transport platform, named Auto-Dolly, for the aviation sector.
This vehicle will allow airports to move luggage and cargo in outdoor and indoor settings without the need for human resources.
Auto-Dolly can autonomously navigate from one task to another and collect and drop off the luggage and cargo robotically via a powered roller deck.
It can also move sideways while docking and parallel parking.
Auto-Dolly can function in snow, fog, heavy rain and direct sunlight with the help of weather-hardened sensors and innovative software processes.
In its recent trial at Heathrow and a digital-twinning project led by Far Eastern airport, the technology was proven to cut down carbon emissions.
In addition, Auto-Dolly can reduce the number of outmoded tugs and trailers by two thirds.
Aurrigo chief executive David Keene said: “Auto-Dolly will revolutionise airports by improving efficiency in the way aircraft luggage and cargo is loaded, unloaded and handled.
Auto-Dolly virtually eliminates all human contact from the baggage and cargo process, extremely important in today’s Covid world and unlike the tugs that are used today, every Auto-Dolly is able to carry a load. This results in improved space utilisation in the baggage hall, as no valuable space is taken up by a vehicle that cannot move something.”
Auto-Dollies will be controlled by Aurrigo’s AI-based cyber-secure fleet management system, called Auto-ConnectTM.
This system will enable Auto-Dollies to meet strict operational deadlines at airports.
24 February | Operations
AAI to appoint ground handling agencies for 83 airports
Airports Authority of India (AAI) has commenced the process of appointing ground handling agencies for 83 state-run airports for a ten-year duration.
The officials told CNBC-TV18 that the aim was to reduce the number of ground handling workers on the airside, thereby averting the chances of any ‘untoward incident’ from occurring.
At present, Air India’s fully owned subsidiary AI Airport Services and Air India’s joint venture AISATS are two prevalent ground handling agencies in the country.
While some domestic airlines such as IndiGo and SpiceJet are performing self-handling at many airports with their regular personnel, others have entered a Memorandum of Understanding with third parties for such services.
On the other hand, international airlines depend on native ground handling agencies throughout their operations in India.
Currently, the lowest annual guarantee for the first year will be the financial bid parameter for the selection of bidder, with the ten-year concession period from the commercial operations date.
An official was quoted by CNBC-TV18 as saying: “For airports where annual traffic is more than ten million, two bidders (H1 and H2) will be appointed, and for those airports where the traffic is less than ten million, we will appoint one bidder (H1).”
Therefore, depending on the category of the airport, two or one more agencies will join the other two popular ground handling agencies in the country.
As per the concession agreement, the concessionaire will make a monthly payment to the authority.
24 FEBRUARY | Technology
‘Aerobot’ piloted at Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport
Malaysia Airports is testing robotics technology at Turkey's Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (ISG) to provide a safe and contactless travel experience under its group-wide Airports 4.0 initiative.
The airport has introduced its first social robot, the ‘Aerobot’, which will help travellers navigate the airport and remind them of new safety practices.
ISG was selected to pilot this technology as it is currently witnessing better traffic movement recovery than Kuala Lumpur International Airport, making it more viable.
Malaysia Airports Group CEO Dato’ Mohd Shukrie Mohd Salleh said: “Last month, ISG registered 1.3 million passenger traffic movements or 60% of the group’s total. As such, we will be able to have a more meaningful gauge on the success of this latest initiative and its implementation viability at our other airports.
“As a group, we make an active effort to find technology solutions that can enhance service levels and also serve as measures to enhance safety and passenger experience.”
The mobile robot has been programmed to communicate in more than 20 international languages, including English, French, Spanish, Russian and Arabic.
Aerobot is capable of profiling passengers and can immediately customise relevant conversation points by using artificial intelligence (AI) technology.
It can also answer flight inquiries, read barcodes, and escort passengers to their boarding gates.
Apart from Aerobot, ISG has installed sleeping cabins at the airside area, allowing passengers to self-check-in and check-out.
In addition, ISG has introduced its shop@saw e-commerce platform to enable both passengers and non-passengers to purchase food, beverages and travel-exclusive products from home or at the airport.
19 February | Deal
Charlotte Douglas Airport introduces new automated screening lanes
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) in the US has installed automated screening lanes (ASL) at security Checkpoint E, located at the east end of the terminal.
CLT provided finances for the testing, maintenance and deployment of the five ASL lanes, which were later gifted to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
This technology will amplify security efficiency, as well as reduce the amount of time passengers spend in the security screening process.
The installation of the lanes was finished in December 2020.
TSA stated that its local officers have been training and certifying on the new technology over the last two months.
Acting aviation director Haley Gentry said: “As part of the airport’s capital improvement programme, Destination CLT, we continue to incorporate innovative technology throughout the terminal to improve the passenger experience from beginning to end.
“We’re happy to partner with TSA to install the ASLs at Checkpoint E, which will offer enhanced security for our local passengers, as well as an expedited screening experience.”
TSA CLT federal security director Kevin Frederick said: “The installation of these ASLs at Charlotte Douglas International Airport exemplifies the commitment by both TSA and airport officials to seek out and employ the most advanced security technologies to ensure the safety of our traveling public.”
To improve the screening process, these ASLs consist of numerous new features.
Some of the features include remote screening capability, bamboo countertops to allow multiple travellers to place their belongings in bins at the same time, and automated and powered rollers to move the bins.
These ASLs automatically divert any carry-on bag that may contain a banned item.
Each bin has unique radio frequency identification tags for added accountability of a passenger’s carry-on belongings.
To date, TSA has supervised installation of around 231 automated screening lanes in security checkpoints at 18 airports in the country.
19 February | ENVIRONMENT
Heathrow Airport pitches two carbon-reducing concepts
The UK’s Heathrow Airport has announced that it has pitched two forward-thinking concepts to Innovate UK’s Future Flight Challenge.
The win provides the airport the opportunity to research new pioneering ideas that facilitate emission and cost reduction.
Fly2Plan and Project NAPKIN are the two projects being researched by Heathrow.
Fly2Plan involves learning how new technologies, such as blockchain and Cloud infrastructure, can use the airport’s data more resourcefully.
It also aims to form a decentralised, robust and efficient functioning model to support cross-company collaboration.
Project NAPKIN (New Aviation Propulsion Knowledge and Innovation Network) aims to develop a blueprint to achieve the ambition of zero-carbon aviation across the UK.
The airport pointed out that the efficient use of airspace, autonomous drones and net-zero regional flights can help in delivering on the industry’s commitment to ‘build back better’.
Future Flight Challenge has been backed through a £125m government grant.
This challenge encompasses three main objectives: maintaining the UK’s advantage in aerospace research and development, generating economic opportunities from new forms of air mobility and reducing aviation emissions.
Both of Heathrow’s projects exhibit the potential to deliver on all three objectives, claimed the airport.
Heathrow has initiated the first stage of the research of these ideas, which will continue until early 2022.
With the long-term goal of wider adoption across the aviation sector, the concepts will be put into action for live demonstrations in the next phase.
For this challenge, the airport is working with several firms across numerous sectors such as NATS, Rolls Royce, Oxford University, Cranfield University, Deloitte, UCL, London City Airport, Highlands and Islands Airports and more.
The challenge has brought together companies in aviation, education and the tech industry to study the use of air mobility, air traffic management, drones and infrastructure innovation.
17 FEBRUARY | PASSengers
Chile’s Santiago Airport to continue Invisible Disabilities programme
Chile’s Santiago International Airport has decided to continue its Invisible Disabilities programme to fight discrimination against people with disabilities.
This programme was launched in collaboration with Descúbreme Foundation, Apoyo Autismo Chile Foundation and the company SOCATRI in 2018.
The aim of this initiative was to improve the airport’s facilities for those suffering from autism.
Under the Airport for All initiative, a distinctive lanyard or necklace is given to passengers with invisible disabilities at airport information offices for free.
This enables customer service assistants to identify those who require special support.
Assistants will then either guide them, read the information on the screens or signage, or clarify any doubts about airport processes.
For this purpose, the printing of a pictorial guide for better understanding of all the stages of the passenger journey, from arrival to boarding, has also been finalised.
The partners have organised training for staff to assist people with Alzheimer’s disease, autism, Asperger’s disease, partial visual or hearing impairment, speech difficulty and refractory paralysis.
A major part of this programme is focused on training and sensitising agents, allowing them to offer ample support to the mentioned passengers.
SOCATRI and Descúbreme Foundation are carrying out the training to encourage the full inclusion of people with cognitive disabilities.
Global operator VINCI Airports claimed that this service has been created for the first time in Latin America.
Santiago International Airport general manager Xavier Lortat-Jacob said: “Our commitment as concessionaire of Chile’s most important airport is not only to build, operate and attract new airlines, but also to listen and understand that all our passengers deserve maximum respect and advice and therefore to work to make the airport a more inclusive place for all.”
15 February | Deal
Europe’s airport passenger traffic drops to 1995 levels
Airports Council International (ACI) EUROPE has reported that European airports lost nearly 1.72 billion passengers in 2020 compared with 2019, indicating a decrease of -70.4%.
While hubs in Turkey and Russia performed better comparatively, Europe’s airport traffic dropped down to 1995 levels last year.
ACI EUROPE director general Olivier Jankovec said: “With just 728 million passengers in 2020 compared to 2.4 billion passengers in the previous year, Europe’s airports were back to their traffic levels of 1995. No industry can on its own withstand such a shock.
"While some states have taken steps to financially support their airports, only €2.2bn has so far been earmarked for that purpose in Europe. This is less than 8% of the revenues airports lost last year.
“With further decreases in traffic over the past weeks and no recovery in sight, more needs to be done. Helping out airports is essential to rebuild air connectivity and effectively support local and regional communities and tourism. It is also critical to restore airports’ investment capabilities for the future. Without more financial support, investments in decarbonisation, digitalisation and SESAR are at risk.”
ACI pointed out that airports within the European Union endured greater impact than those outside the bloc, primarily due to the size and relative resilience of domestic markets in Turkey and Russia, along with fewer travel and lockdown restrictions.
Among the major air hubs, Frankfurt took the hardest hit in passenger traffic, down by 73%, closely followed by London Heathrow, Amsterdam-Schipol and Paris Charles de Gaulle.
In the last quarter of 2020, Istanbul had turned into the busiest European airport, followed by Istanbul-Sabiha Gocken and Moscow-Sheremetyevo.
EU airports witnessed a dip of around 84% in passenger traffic in Q4, compared to a 64% drop at non-EU airports.
Similarly, Spain’s airport operator Aena reported that its airports handled nearly 2,814,424 passengers in January, 83.4% less than in the same month in 2019.
Out of these passengers recorded in January, nearly 1,236,326 travelled on international flights, 88.7% less than in January 2020, and 1,544,509 on domestic flights, down by 74%.
In addition, passenger traffic at Dubai International Airport also dropped by 70% to 25.9 million last year.
The airport managed nearly 183,993 flights in 2020, down by 51.4%, while the average number of passengers per flight fell by 20.3% to 188.
In brief
AAI issues tenders for Dholera Airport’s construction in Gujarat
Airports Authority of India (AAI) has issued tenders for the phase one construction of an international airport at Dholera, in the Indian state of Gujarat. As per an official statement, the airport will require an investment of approximately $133m.
Vietnam Airlines to invest $434m in Long Thanh International Airport
Vietnam Airlines is planning to invest $430m in Long Thanh International Airport, which is currently under construction, to provide ground services and in-flight meals at the airport.
KAC signs four-party MoU for South Korea UAM project
Korea Airports Corporation (KAC) has signed a four-party memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Hanwha Systems, SK Telecom and the Korea Transport Institute to prepare for the commercialisation of urban air mobility.
Burlington International Airport receives $14.5m for upgrade work
Burlington International Airport (BTV) in the US has received $14.5m in federal funding for airport improvements. The upgrades include the expansion of the airport’s terminal building and the formation of one security checkpoint instead of two.
Australia’s Perth Airport upgrades airport management system
Perth Airport in Australia has installed a new airport operational system for streamlining airline and ground handler flight management procedures. The project has been undertaken in partnership with Veovo, a provider of information technology and services.
17 February | Passengers
Chile’s Santiago Airport to continue Invisible Disabilities programme
Chile’s Santiago International Airport has decided to continue its Invisible Disabilities programme to fight discrimination against people with disabilities.
This programme was launched in collaboration with Descúbreme Foundation, Apoyo Autismo Chile Foundation and the company SOCATRI in 2018.
The aim of this initiative was to improve the airport’s facilities for those suffering from autism.
Under the Airport for All initiative, a distinctive lanyard or necklace is given to passengers with invisible disabilities at airport information offices for free.
This enables customer service assistants to identify and offer guidance to those who require special support.
For this purpose, a document will be printed with images depicting all stages of the passenger journey, from arrival to boarding.
The partners have organised training for staff to assist people with Alzheimer’s disease, autism, Asperger’s disease, partial visual or hearing impairment, speech difficulty and refractory paralysis.
A major part of this programme is focused on training and sensitising agents, allowing them to offer ample support to passengers.
SOCATRI and Descúbreme Foundation are carrying out the training to encourage the full inclusion of people with cognitive disabilities.
Global operator VINCI Airports claimed that this service has been created for the first time in Latin America.
Santiago International Airport general manager Xavier Lortat-Jacob said: “Our commitment as concessionaire of Chile’s most important airport is not only to build, operate and attract new airlines, but also to listen and understand that all our passengers deserve maximum respect and advice and therefore to work to make the airport a more inclusive place for all.”
15 February | Passengers
Europe’s airport passenger traffic drops to 1995 levels
Airports Council International (ACI) EUROPE has reported that European airports lost nearly 1.72 billion passengers in 2020 compared with 2019, indicating a decrease of -70.4%.
While hubs in Turkey and Russia performed better comparatively, Europe’s airport traffic dropped down to 1995 levels last year.
ACI EUROPE director general Olivier Jankovec said: “With just 728 million passengers in 2020 compared to 2.4 billion passengers in the previous year, Europe’s airports were back to their traffic levels of 1995.
"No industry can on its own withstand such a shock. While some states have taken steps to financially support their airports, only €2.2bn has so far been earmarked for that purpose in Europe. This is less than 8% of the revenues airports lost last year.
“With further decreases in traffic over the past weeks and no recovery in sight, more needs to be done. Helping out airports is essential to rebuild air connectivity and effectively support local and regional communities and tourism.
"It is also critical to restore airports’ investment capabilities for the future. Without more financial support, investments in decarbonisation, digitalisation and SESAR are at risk.”
ACI pointed out that airports within the European Union endured greater impact than those outside the bloc, primarily due to the size and relative resilience of domestic markets in Turkey and Russia, along with fewer travel and lockdown restrictions.
Among the major air hubs, Frankfurt took the hardest hit in passenger traffic, down by 73%, closely followed by London Heathrow, Amsterdam-Schipol and Paris Charles de Gaulle.
In the last quarter of 2020, Istanbul had turned into the busiest European airport, followed by Istanbul-Sabiha Gocken and Moscow-Sheremetyevo.
EU airports witnessed a dip of around 84% in passenger traffic in Q4, compared to a 64% drop at non-EU airports.
Similarly, Spain’s airport operator Aena reported that its airports handled nearly 2,814,424 passengers in January, 83.4% less than in the same month in 2019.
Out of these passengers recorded in January, nearly 1,236,326 travelled on international flights, 88.7% less than in January 2020, and 1,544,509 on domestic flights, down by 74%.
In addition, passenger traffic at Dubai International Airport also dropped by 70% to 25.9 million last year.
The airport managed nearly 183,993 flights in 2020, down by 51.4%, while the average number of passengers per flight fell by 20.3% to 188.
