Heathrow plans to recover Covid losses grounded by CAA

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.

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.”

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.

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.

‘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.”