Industry news
JetBlue and Icelandair expand codeshare alliance
airlines
JetBlue Airways has expanded its codeshare agreement with Iceland’s flag carrier Icelandair to make connections between Europe and North America easier for travellers.
Passengers can now book the new codeshare flights from the website of JetBlue.
The current codes of JetBlue on Icelandair provide direct flights between New York’s John F Kennedy (JFK) Airport, Newark’s Liberty International Airport (EWR), Boston’s Logan International Airport (BOS), and Iceland’s Keflavik International Airport (KEF).
Under the codeshare expansion, the JetBlue ‘B6’ code will be at first available for seven of 24 European courses that Icelandair runs beyond Reykjavik.
Additional routes will be included in the codeshare expansion programme in the future.
The primary routes comprise Denmark’s Copenhagen Airport (CPH), the Netherlands’ Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS), the UK’s Glasgow Airport (GLA), Finland’s Helsinki Airport (HEL), the UK’s Manchester Airport (MAN), Norway’s Oslo Airport (OSL), and Sweden’s Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARN).
Passengers opting for connecting flights between JetBlue and Icelandair will be able to combine ticketing as well as transfer their baggage.
Furthermore, while flying on Icelandair across the Atlantic, customers can make a stop in Iceland without any extra cost by choosing a stopover duration ranging from one to seven days.
AIRPORTS
Gatwick Airport opts for Veovo’s AI-powered flow management
Gatwick Airport (LGW) in the UK has partnered with technology firm Veovo to deploy the latter’s Passenger Predictability solution for smooth passenger flow.
The Veovo solution uses artificial intelligence (AI), which will enable Gatwick Airport to monitor passenger movement at the security areas in the North and South terminal in real-time.
This information will also help the airport officials prepare a plan for lane openings and forecast bottlenecks.
Veovo claims that its Passenger Predictability solution has been designed to offer metrics including waiting times, occupancy, and passenger throughput.
These features would help airports prevent passenger congestion and lower waiting times.
The tech firm’s platform has the flexibility to aggregate data from any source as it is not tied to any proprietary sensor technology.
airports
AMS announces rise in airport charges as SAF incentive
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) has unveiled plans for a 37% cumulative increase in airport charges, largely in an effort to recover from pandemic-induced losses.
As part of its plan, the airport aims to support airline companies using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
Airlines will get $578m (€500) for every ton of biofuel and $1,157 (€1,000) for every ton of synthetic fuel during refuelling.
The company also plans to implement a levy on nitrogen emissions at the airport, where airline companies will be charged $4.63 (€4) for each kilo of nitrogen emitted during flight take-off and landing.
Additionally, a higher levy is planned for conventional aircraft that take off and land at the airport during night times.
Based on the type of aircraft, the additional charge could be 600% more compared to the charge that is levied during the daytime, noted Schiphol.
SUSTAINABILITY
MAG forms alliance for direct supply of sustainable aviation fuel
The UK’s Manchester Airports Group (MAG) has signed a memorandum of understanding with Fulcrum BioEnergy Limited UK to facilitate direct sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) supply for Manchester Airport (MAN).
With this development, the UK’s third-largest gateway is set to become the country’s first airport to have a direct sustainable jet fuel supply.
The airport will receive the fuel through an existing pipeline that spans between Stanlow and MAN.
As part of this project, Fulcrum is working on the development of Fulcrum NorthPoint, which is a new SAF refinery at Stanlow.
This collaboration aims to employ the benefits of using SAF, which is expected to facilitate the decarbonisation of the aviation industry.
Fulcrum and MAG’s partnership will focus on replacing up to 10% of the fuel consumption at the airport with SAF in a span of five years after the commencement of the Fulcrum NorthPoint facility.
The alliance will enable airlines operating at MAN to decarbonise their operations through the usage of SAF.
SUSTAINABILITY
BCG and ten carriers set up new aviation industry taskforce
Boston Consulting Group (BCG), in partnership with ten international airlines, has established a new non-profit organisation, Aviation Climate Taskforce (ACT), to support sustainable travel.
The aim is to promote the development of green technologies to decarbonise the sector.
Ten international airlines that are involved in the initiative are Air Canada, Air France-KLM, American Airlines, JetBlue, Lufthansa, Cathay Pacific, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, and Virgin Atlantic.
In addition to ‘next-generation’ technologies, ACT will primarily focus on medium-term solutions, including direct air capture and synthetic fuel.
Eventually, ACT will help in the development of near-term solutions such as bio-based sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) pathways and long-term technologies such as hydrogen solutions.
The new organisation will receive support from the Collaboration Forum and the Innovation Network.
airlines
AMS and ZeroAvia plan hydrogen-electric flights
ZeroAvia, Royal Schiphol Group, Rotterdam The Hague Innovation Airport Foundation and Rotterdam the Hague Airport (RTHA) have struck an alliance to operate the first zero-emission commercial passenger flights between the UK and the Netherlands.
The aim is to fly a 19-seater aircraft between Rotterdam The Hague Airport and London in 2024.
This aeroplane, which is being developed by ZeroAvia, will operate completely on hydrogen.
Currently, ZeroAvia and Royal Schiphol Group are in advanced discussions with airlines to select an operator for the proposed route.
As part of the alliance, ZeroAvia and Royal Schiphol Group will jointly test and demonstrate hydrogen supply chain refuelling operations, along with the integration with airport operations.
They will also explore the pathway for facilitating the commercial adoption of hydrogen-electric aviation.
In brief
AerCap finalises purchase of GE Capital Aviation Services
Irish aircraft leasing company AerCap Holdings has concluded the acquisition of 100% of General Electric’s GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS).
General Electric secured around $23bn in cash, $1bn of AerCap notes, as well as 111.5 million AerCap shares.
SHJ utilises new passenger flow management platforms
The Sharjah Airport Authority in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has implemented a new technology to augment operational efficiency and facilitate the smooth flow of passengers at Sharjah Airport (SHJ).
The new passenger flow and queue management platform is designed to improve efficiencies in various areas such as passports, security checkpoints and check-in locations.
Thales to upgrade air traffic management in Bangladesh
Thales has secured a new contract from the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) to upgrade the latter’s nationwide air traffic management system.
As part of the project, the en-route, approach and tower system at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shajalal International Airport (HSIA) will be modernised.
Indra to enable remote air traffic management at BUD
Global technology and consulting firm Indra has secured a contract from HungaroControl, a Hungarian air navigation service provider, to manage air traffic at Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport (BUD) from a remote location.
The agreement will see Indra delivering a comprehensive and integrated solution for Budapest Airport, which will enable HungaroControl to control air traffic services at the airport from a remote location.
FAA taps SITA for US oceanic airspace management
Information technology firm SITA has secured the Oceanic Data Link contract from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to deliver its Future Air Navigation System-based datalink solutions.
These solutions will oversee air traffic across the US’ oceanic airspace, facilitating real-time communication between pilots and air traffic controllers.
SUSTAINABILITY
LHR enables travellers to purchase SAF to offset carbon
Heathrow Airport in the UK has become the first airport in the country to allow its passengers to offset their flight’s carbon emissions by purchasing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
Using the voluntary online offsetting platform of climate-tech company CHOOOSE, passengers can pick the percentage of carbon emissions they intend to offset with SAF while remaining emissions will be offset via certified global reforestation projects.
Passengers will be able to use this platform irrespective of their airline or end destination.
Currently, more than 60% of Heathrow’s airline partners are said to have committed to converting at least 10% of their fuel supply into SAF by 2030.
business & regulation
Qatar and EU reach comprehensive agreement
The EU and Qatar have entered a comprehensive air transport agreement with an aim to offer new opportunities and economic benefits for both sides.
The agreement focuses on upgrading standards for flights travelling between Qatar and the EU, as well as creating new opportunities for airports, airline companies and consumers.
According to the new agreement, all EU-based airlines can operate directly from any European airport to Qatar and vice versa for Qatari airlines.
However, EU airports in Belgium, Italy, France, Germany, and the Netherlands will be subject to a gradual build-up of capacity until 2024.
The two parties have agreed on provisions for open and fair competition to guarantee a level playing field.
The EU and Qatar have recognised the significance of social matters and agreed to collaborate on these matters and improve their social and labour laws according to their international commitments.
