Industry news

Indian Government decides minimum reserve price for Air India sale

airlines

The Government of India has reportedly decided the final reserve price for Air India, for which final bids were received earlier this month from Tata Sons and SpiceJet promoter Ajay Singh.

According to reports, Tata is said to have submitted a higher bid.

The sale includes Air India’s 100% stake in AI Express and 50% in Air India SATS Airport Services.

It is reported that a presentation on the valuation of Air India was made earlier this week and the committee of secretaries took a call on the reserve price of the airline.

Representatives from the two companies are said to have met government officials. However, neither the company representatives nor government officials revealed any details about the meeting.

airlines

Ryanair to reopen base at ORK

Ryanair has announced an investment of $200m in Ireland’s Cork Airport (ORK), reopening its two-aircraft base at the airport and restoring all pre-Covid-19 flights from the third quarter of 2022.

With this investment, the Irish carrier will bring 20 routes to ORK, including new services to Birmingham and Edinburgh that were operated by Stobart Air before its recent collapse.

For the past several months, Cork Airport and the DAA (Dublin Airport Authority) have been working with Ryanair to extend the traffic recovery scheme until October next year to incentivise Ryanair’s traffic to return to pre-pandemic levels.

The scheme’s extension is said to secure 60 Ryanair jobs.

airports

FAA to deploy Nasa tech

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will deploy a new Nasa technology at busy US hub airports, which can calculate gate pushbacks to help each aircraft roll directly to the runway and take off.

The testing of the new software capability has been completed.

The new Nasa technology is said to help minimise taxi time and fuel burn, which would result in reducing carbon emission and support the government’s goal to build a sustainable aviation system.

The government agency plans to roll out this new software across 27 airports in the country.

Developed by Nasa, the software was tested for around four years and will now be part of the FAA Terminal Flight Data Manager (TFDM) programme.

aircraft systems

TotalEnergies and Safran join forces in aviation decarbonisation drive

French companies TotalEnergies and Safran have reached a strategic alliance to develop technical and commercial solutions for decarbonising the aviation sector.

Under this agreement, the two firms will utilise their knowledge to develop and deploy sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and create an informed understanding of the overall value chain and use cases.

The initiative will support TotalEnergies and Safran’s objective to reach net-zero CO₂ emissions by 2050 and fast-track the reduction of carbon emissions in the aviation industry.

The partnership between the two companies will primarily focus on research, technology and innovation, as well as the supply of SAF produced in France by TotalEnergies to decarbonise Safran’s aeroplane and helicopter engine tests in France.

technology

China’s Huawei introduces new Airport Cloud-Network Solution

Chinese technology company Huawei has introduced the latest Airport Cloud-Network Solution amid increased focus on the digital transformation of airports.

The solution is designed to help airports improve operational efficiency, as well as enhance security and passenger experience.

Particularly, Airport Cloud-Network Solution includes airport terminal access network, backbone network, cloud data centre network and integrated network security.

According to the company, the solution leverages AirEngine Wi-Fi 6 to create a gigabit wireless access network across the airport terminal building for continuous coverage. The system also eliminates blind spots and increases coverage distance by 20%.

The solution uses IPv6+ technology to develop a centralised backbone network for multiple services. This enables the backbone network to completely accommodate various services such as security checks, retail and ground handling.

airlines

British Airways drops plans for low-cost unit at LGW

British Airways has reportedly dropped its previous plans for setting up a new low-cost unit at Gatwick Airport (LGW) in London, UK.

The decision was taken after the pilots refused to support the plan, reported The Guardian.

The airline suspended most of its operations from LGW at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. Recently, British Airways said that it intends to resume short-haul operations with a revised arrangement that would reduce its costs.

However, pilots’ union Balpa failed to secure the support of its members for the deal.

The carrier said that now it will suspend short-haul services at LGW. However, domestic services connecting to its long-haul trips will continue.

Separately, Balpa’s acting general secretary Martin Chalk expressed his disappointment for failing to reach an agreement.

In brief

Eurocontrol Network Manager’s operational systems to digitalise

European air navigation body Eurocontrol has selected Indra for the digital transformation of the operational systems of its network manager.

LAX to test earthquake early warning system

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in the US is set to pilot a new earthquake early warning system as part of its efforts during National Preparedness Month.

Thales deploys ABC gates at three more Spanish airports

Thales has completed the installation of automatic border control gates (ABC gates) at three more Spanish airports, namely Reus (REU), Girona-Costa Brava (GRO) and Tenerife Sur (TFS).

US to ease travel restrictions for fully vaccinated air passengers

The US Government has decided to relax Covid-19-related travel restrictions in the country by allowing fully vaccinated air travellers from 33 countries globally.

British Airways runs first flight with sustainable aviation fuel

UK-based airline carrier British Airways has operated its first passenger flight using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) between Heathrow (LHR) and Glasgow Airport (GLA).

technology

Afroport selects Amadeus to help airports move to Cloud

Abu Dhabi-based Afroport has signed a long-term agreement with Spanish IT solution provider Amadeus for the modernisation of airports in Africa.

According to the agreement, Afroport airports will switch to Amadeus Flow, a Cloud-based platform for providing passenger services.

Afroport has been commissioned by the government of Mauritania to upgrade and manage Nouakchott–Oumtounsy International Airport (NKC), under a long-term contract.

Nouakchott Airport is the first Afroport airport to deploy Amadeus Flow.

This development commenced in June last year and was concluded remotely, in the absence of any on-site engineer.

Due to this modernisation, the passenger traffic at Nouakchott is said to have touched 90% of 2019 levels.

airports

Vinci Airports enters new decarbonisation partnership

Vinci Airports has agreed to work with Airbus and Air Liquide to expedite the decarbonisation of the aviation sector by promoting the usage of hydrogen at airports.

Vinci Airports, Airbus and Air Liquide have selected Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport (LYS) in France as the pilot airport. The airport is expected to deploy the first installations as early as 2023.

Overall, the project will be implemented in several phases.

The three partners aim to establish a hydrogen gas distribution station at LYS by 2023. This facility will supply hydrogen to the airport’s ground vehicles, as well as the heavy goods vehicles that drive around the airport.

Between 2023 and 2030, the three companies aim to deploy liquid hydrogen infrastructures to supply hydrogen into the tanks of future aircraft.