“The accident investigation process is one of our most important learning tools when building global safety standards. But to learn from an accident, we need reports that are complete, accessible and timely,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.

The requirements of the Convention of International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention) Annex 13 are clear. States in charge of an accident investigation must:

• Submit a preliminary report to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) within 30 days of the accident.
• Publish the final report, that is publicly available, as soon as possible and within 12 months of the accident.
• Publish interim statements annually should a final report not be possible within 12 months.

Only 96 of the 214 accident investigations during the period 2018-2022 conform with the requirements of the Chicago Convention. Just 31 reports were published in less than one year of the accident with the majority (58) taking between 1–3 years. In addition to the fact that final reports regularly take more than a year, interim statements often provide little more than what was presented in the preliminary report.

“Over the past five years, fewer than half of the required accident reports meet the standards for thoroughness and timeliness. This is an inexcusable violation of requirements stated clearly in the Chicago Convention. As an industry we must raise our voice to governments in defense of the accident investigation process enshrined in Annex 13. And we count on ICAO to remind states that the publication of a complete accident report is not optional, it is an obligation under Annex 13 of the Chicago Convention,” said Walsh.

The article IATA urges states to provide timely, thorough and public accident reports first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

The IATA AGM is a premier event in the aviation industry, bringing together influential leaders, industry experts, and stakeholders from around the globe. This year’s event promises to be a platform for engaging discussions, collaborative initiatives, and insightful sessions that shape the future of aviation.

As a trusted source of industry news, analysis, and thought leadership, Aviation-Event will be actively engaged throughout the event, providing comprehensive coverage, interviews, and highlights from the IATA AGM. With a dedicated team of aviation professionals, the platform aims to offer its readers an in-depth understanding of the key discussions, trends, and
innovations shaping the industry.

Aviation-Event’s presence at the IATA AGM 2023 will facilitate valuable networking opportunities with industry professionals, decision-makers, and experts. The team will be actively seeking out engaging conversations, exploring emerging trends, and capturing the pulse of the aviation community.

Marcel Riwalsky, CEO, Aviation-Event, stated: “We are thrilled to participate in the IATA AGM 2023, one of the most significant events in the aviation calendar.” Our goal is to provide our readers with unparalleled coverage and insights into the discussions and developments happening at the AGM. We look forward to connecting with industry leaders and contributing to the dialogue that shapes the future of aviation.”

Aviation-Event is a leading media platform dedicated to providing the latest news, analysis, and insights in the aviation industry. With a team of passionate aviation professionals, the platform aims to promote thought leadership, foster dialogue, and connect the global aviation community. Through its website, social media channels, and events, Aviation-Event delivers valuable content to a diverse audience of industry professionals, and decision-makers.

The article Aviation-Event participates in IATA AGM 2023, showcasing industry insights and thought leadership first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

“We look forward to gathering the aviation industry in Dubai for the 80th IATA AGM in 2024. Dubai is a dynamic city and a major aviation hub connecting the world. The UAE’s positive approach to aviation has built a strong airline with a strong hub airport. Together, these make an enormously powerful and positive contribution to the society and economy of the UAE. Holding the AGM in Dubai will be a showcase of what can be achieved by aviation with supportive government policies and decisions,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.

“Emirates is delighted to host the 80th IATA AGM and World Air Transport Summit. We look forward to welcoming all our aviation industry colleagues to Dubai in 2024,” said Sir Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline.

The decision to host the 80th IATA AGM was made by the 79th AGM in Istanbul.

This will be the first time the UAE and Dubai will host the global gathering of aviation’s top leaders.

The article Emirates to host 80th IATA AGM in Dubai​ first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

Reduction of problematic single use plastics products (SUPP) and improving the circularity in the use of plastics by the industry is the initial focus of the partnership as UNEP leads global efforts to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment, by the end of 2024.

Making aircraft cabins more sustainable is a priority for airlines and their passengers. The complex and asymmetrical regulatory environment, however, often poses an obstacle by preventing circular economy best practices. In the absence of a global approach, differing regulations at both ends of a journey severely limit the actions that airlines can take.

IATA advocates for a simplified and harmonized regulatory environment that would enable a reduction in plastic utilization and greater reuse, and recycling of cabin waste, including plastics, where they are needed. To this end, the partnership will step-up IATA’s engagement with UNEP to ensure that aviation’s unique challenges and opportunities are represented in the upcoming international legally binding agreement to end plastic pollution.

Already, IATA and UNEP are working on joint guidance on Re-thinking Plastics in Aviation. This comprehensive resource will encompass an overview of regulations, guidance on SUPP replacement, and recommended best practices for both industry and regulators.

“World Environment Day reminds us that sustainability is our number one global challenge. Formalizing IATA’s longstanding collaboration with UNEP will help airlines move even faster on improving the sustainability of the aircraft cabin. It’s critical that we achieve a harmonized global regulatory framework to enable airlines to implement more comprehensive and common circular economic solutions in all markets. For example, currently our hands are tied with outdated regulations focused on incineration rather than reuse and recycling. Modernizing that will be a big step forward for sustainability,” said Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA’s SVP Sustainability and Chief Economist.

“UNEP is looking forward to working with IATA, to helping the industry transition to net zero, reduce food waste and move away from SUPP. The aviation industry can also help by raising awareness among passengers and staff, and ensure that all stakeholders of the aviation value chain are engaged, and most importantly act in a joined-up way to end plastic pollution,” said Sheila Aggarwal-Khan, Director of UNEP’s Industry and Economy Division.

More than 400 million tonnes of plastic is produced every year, half of which is designed to be used only once. Of that, only nine percent is recycled, with the pollution it generates making it extremely urgent that global action is taken.

Under this partnership, IATA and UNEP also plan to work together on knowledge sharing, guidance and networking in other key sustainability challenges including sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), sustainable finance, climate adaptation, biodiversity conservation including preventing wildlife trafficking and sustainable tourism.

The article IATA and UNEP to address key environmental challenges in aviation including single-use plastics first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

Inside the 8 by 20 foot cargo container is a complex system of pipes and tanks that takes the concept of composting waste and supercharges it—approximately eight times faster than normal composting. Fully automated and self-sufficient, the fertiliser tank is drained once a week via a spigot mounted on the exterior.

“Food waste is bad for business,” said Dylan Lew, CEO and co-founder of Ecotone. “I think we’ve created an amazing solution for our customers because we not only reduce waste odours and greenhouse gas emissions, but when it comes down to the bottom line, we reduce costs.”

Employees from the landside Dunkin’ concession drop in over 200 kg of food waste a week via a chute on the outside of the container. The surplus coffee grounds offer robust nutrients for fertiliser, and sugary waste such as donuts and muffins are prime sustenance for the bacteria and microbes that are critical to the digestion process. The waste is then ground up, mixed with collected rainwater and fed through the system. Three weeks later, 50 gallons of nutrient-rich fertiliser is made and ready to sell, along with leftover biogas that is purified and used to power the system.

According to the United Nations, aviation accounts for 2-4 percent of global carbon emissions with 8 percent of greenhouse gas emissions produced by food waste in landfills worldwide. Giving back to the community, Ecotone donates 10 percent of its “Soil Sauce” fertiliser to local community gardens in Pittsburgh. The remainder is sold to local farmers and home gardeners in 50+ retailers.

The article Pittsburgh International Airport turns food waste into fertiliser first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

The arrival of the 186-seat Airbus A320 means easyJet now bases nine A320 family aircraft at Edinburgh Airport, demonstrating the airline’s long-term commitment to Scotland by providing more great value choice, offering 70 routes across 17 countries in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. The airline will operate its largest ever flying programme from Scotland this summer and is set to operate 6.3 million seats to and from Scotland, around a million more than summer 2019.

Last Friday the airline launched its inaugural flight on a brand new summer route from Edinburgh to Catania in Italy, with the new service now operating up to twice a week on Mondays and Fridays throughout the summer. Flights to Antalya in Turkey also took off for the first time on Saturday 3 June, operating twice weekly on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Both routes will provide customers in Scotland with even more choice when planning their summer getaway, whether they want to relax by crystal clear waters or discover some of Europe’s most charming cities.

The new routes means that holidaymakers from Edinburgh wanting to explore Catania or Antalya can do so with easyJet holidays. From luxury all-inclusive resorts, to family-friendly self-catered apartments, there’s something for everyone. And, there’s 23kg of luggage per person, flights, hotel and transfers included on all beach packages.

Ali Gayward, easyJet’s UK Country Manager, said: “We are delighted to be welcoming the arrival of our ninth aircraft in Edinburgh today and to be celebrating the launch of our new summer routes to Catania and Antalya, which is a testament to our continued success and commitment to our customers by providing greater choice and direct connectivity to more of the fantastic destinations Europe has to offer, for what will be our biggest ever summer in Scotland.

“We are proud to be the largest airline in Scotland and the expansion of our fleet and strengthening of our network at Edinburgh demonstrates our confidence in the resilient strength of demand for travel in the UK, with customers choosing us for our trusted brand, unrivalled network and great value fares and we can’t wait to welcome more customers on board.”

Kate Sherry, Chief Commercial Officer (Aero) said: “It’s great to see the new routes to Catania and Antalya commence as both offer something very different to our passengers, ensuring we are offering choice of destination and experience where we can. We love to provide excitement to and a sense of adventure to people looking to get away and we know offering them a variety of destinations is something that provides that.

“The basing of another aircraft at Edinburgh to expand easyJet’s presence to nine at Scotland’s airport really demonstrates the airline’s commitment to growth in the capital. We are always looking to use the latest aircraft with the most modern technology and four A320s delivers that, and we look forward to working with each other to provide more choice for passengers where we can.”

On 24 November 1995 easyJet’s first ever flight to Edinburgh took off from London Luton and since then the airline has remained committed to the airport by maintaining a continuous operation. Today, easyJet is the largest in Scotland, and since launching operations nearly 30 years ago has flown over 105 million customers to and from the four Scottish airports it serves and offers 70 routes across Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.

The article easyJet celebrates arrival of ninth aircraft at Edinburgh Airport first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

The inaugural flights received an official welcome at John Paul II Airport, located 11 kilometres west from the centre of Kraków, and at Varna Airport, located only seven kilometres from the centre of that city.

“Tourists who love exploring European metropolises will definitely be pleased by our new scheduled flights to Kraków. Now they have the opportunity to arrive in one of the oldest cities in Poland in just two hours on comfortable Air Serbia airplanes. Neighbouring Bulgaria also offers many interesting vacation spots. One that stands out is Varna, often called the “sea capital of Bulgaria”. We will be flying to the city on the Black Sea throughout the summer season. Maybe our direct flights between Belgrade and Varna will prompt travellers to opt for this Bulgarian city when choosing their holiday destination,” said Boško Rupić, General Manager Commercial and Strategy, Air Serbia.

During your stay in Krakow, do not miss the imposing gothic domes of St. Mary’s Basilica, or Rynek Główny, the biggest medieval square in Europe. Make sure to buy some souvenirs at the old Cloth Hall shopping mall, often claimed to be the oldest in the world, and try traditional sausages and home-brewed beverages at one of the bars or restaurants. Above the old town is the Town Hall Tower, which dates back to the 15th century and provides an amazing panoramic view.

Passengers will have excellent connections from Kraków, via Belgrade, with Ankara, Athens, Bucharest, Istanbul, Larnaca, Ljubljana, Naples, Podgorica, Rome, Sofia, Thessaloniki, Tivat, Zagreb and other cities in the Air Serbia network.

The largest city in northeastern Bulgaria, Varna, is located on the coast of the Black Sea and Lake Varna. In addition to numerous cultural landmarks, a special curiosity is the fact that the oldest processed gold in the world is kept in the Archaeological Museum of the city. The Varna region is known for its clean sea, fine sand, and pleasant climate.

From Varna, via Belgrade, passengers will have good connectivity to a large number of destinations in the network of Air Serbia, such as Amsterdam, Vienna, Berlin, Bologna, Zurich, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Copenhagen, Ljubljana, New York, Oslo, Podgorica, Prague, Rome, Venice, and Zagreb.

The article Air Serbia commences direct flights to Krakow and Varna first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

Prior to joining Medjet, Casey managed corporate sales for The Hertz Corporation, working with large Fortune 500 companies throughout the mid-Atlantic region. During his more than 15-year tenure at Hertz, Casey consistently ranked among the top 10% in sales within the company.

Casey’s appointment comes at a time when Medjet is experiencing record-breaking sales, particularly of its highest tier membership, MedjetHorizon (air medical transport + travel security response). January 2023 saw the best-ever monthly sales of MedjetHorizon memberships in the history of the company, only to have that record quickly broken again in March and again as May 2023 closed. After impressive sales growth overall in 2022, driven by heightened post-pandemic awareness of traveler vulnerability among consumers, Medjet’s first quarter business-to-business sales numbers have also surpassed expectations, seemingly as business travelers finally get back out on the road.

“Many new companies are choosing Medjet to elevate their traveler protection. We’re also finding that many of our existing clients ~ the companies, associations and groups in our B2B channel ~ are gravitating toward MedjetHorizon as they renew their annual memberships for employees,” said Michael Hallman, President and CEO of Medjet.

“Getting a hospitalized employee moved to a hospital at home has always been a Duty of Care concern, and a problem Medjet solves at an affordable price,” continued Hallman, “but global political tensions, agitated demonstrations and elevated crime levels, even in places formerly considered very safe, seem to have corporate planners worried. They’re more focused on the growing need for ‘people risk management’ versus just ‘travel risk management’, and seeking higher levels of security response for their travelers. That seems to be spurring the growth in our MedjetHorizon sales. We’re happy to have Tom onboard to help bring the Medjet suite of services and business traveler solutions to more companies and planners throughout the Northeast.”

Casey has also spent time at AOL Time Warner, Lamar Advertising and Enterprise Holdings Inc. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Clarion University in Clarion, PA, as well as a certification in Orthobiologics and Regenerative Medicine at the Medical Sales College in Denver.

The article Medjet appoints Thomas Casey to Head Sales for Northeast U.S. first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

Whenever there is a delay or a cancellation, where specific passenger rights regulations exist, the burden of care and compensation falls on the airline, regardless of which part of the aviation chain is at fault. IATA therefore urged governments to ensure that responsibility for flight issues is shared more equitably across the air transport system.

“The aim of any passenger rights regulation surely should be to drive better service. So it makes little sense that airlines are singled out to pay compensation for delays and cancellations that have a broad range of root causes, including air traffic control failures, strikes by non-airline workers, and inefficient infrastructure. With more governments introducing or strengthening passenger rights regulations, the situation is no longer sustainable for airlines. And it has little benefit for passengers because it does not encourage all parts of the aviation system to maximize customer service. On top of this, as costs need to be recouped from passengers, they end up funding this system. We urgently need to move to a model of ‘shared accountability’ where all actors in the value chain face the same incentives to drive on-time performance,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.

Economic deregulation of the airline industry has brought huge benefits over decades, increasing consumer choice, reducing fares, expanding route networks and encouraging new entrants. Unfortunately, a trend of re-regulation threatens to undo some of these advances. In the area of consumer protection, more than a hundred jurisdictions have developed unique consumer regulations, with at least a dozen more governments looking to join the group or toughen what they already have.

EU 261 needs to be reviewed

The Commission’s own data show that delays have increased since the existing EU 261 Regulation was introduced, even as the cost to airlines—and ultimately passengers—continues to balloon. It has become subject to more than 70 interpretations by the European Court of Justice, each of which serves to take the regulation further than originally envisaged by the authorities. The European Commission, along with the Council and Parliament, needs to revive the Revision of EU261 that was on the table before it was blocked by Member States. Any future discussions should address the proportionality of compensation and the lack of specific responsibilities for key stakeholders, such as airports or air navigation service providers.

Such a review is even more necessary when the EU Regulation is in danger of becoming a global template, with other countries, including Canada, the United States, and Australia, as well as some in Latin America and the Middle East, seeming to consider it a model, without recognizing that EU261 was never intended to address operational disruption and therefore does not apply equally to all actors in the aviation chain.

“In refusing to address the issue of distributing accountability more evenly across the system, EU261 has entrenched the service failings of some actors who have no inducement to improve. A classic example is the more than 20-year lack of progress toward the Single European Sky, which would significantly reduce delays and airspace inefficiency across Europe,” said Walsh.

An opportunity for the United Kingdom

With sensible reform of EU 261 stalled, the United Kingdom has an opportunity to incorporate some of the proposed revisions into the country’s post-Brexit model for passenger rights. Proper reform of ‘UK 261’ provides a gilt-edged opportunity for a genuine ‘Brexit dividend’ which the present pro-Brexit government should not ignore.

Canada is losing its reputation for good regulation

The situation in Canada is particularly disappointing because it has benefitted from a well-balanced regulatory regime up to now. An example is the explicit recognition of the primacy of safety, meaning that safety-related problems are not subject to compensation. Unfortunately, Canadian policymakers seem inclined to remove this important exception. Canada has also announced a “guilty until proven innocent” approach to airlines when there are delays or cancellations. These moves appear to be driven by internal Canadian party politics. Moreover, the government’s regulatory zeal appears to evaporate when it comes to holding government-run entities such as Border Services (CBSA) or Transport Security (CATSA) accountable for their performance.

One potential bright spot is that the National Airlines Council of Canada has put forward a model for shared accountabilities across the aviation value chain, including increased transparency, data reporting and service quality standards, an approach that could well have merit beyond Canada.

The United States—a solution in search of a problem

The US Department of Transportation is proposing to mandate compensation for delayed or cancelled flights when their own Cancellation and Delay Scoreboard shows that the 10 largest US carriers already offer meals or cash vouchers to customers during extended delays, and nine also offer complimentary hotel accommodation for passengers affected by an overnight cancellation. Effectively, the market is already delivering, while at the same time allowing airlines the freedom to compete, innovate and differentiate themselves in terms of their service offerings.

“It’s easy for a politician to regulate a new passenger rights law, it makes them look like they’ve achieved something. But every new unnecessary regulation is an anchor on the cost-efficiency and competitiveness of air transport. It takes a brave regulator to look at the situation and recognize when ‘less is more’. The history of this industry proves that less economic regulation unlocks greater choice and benefits for passengers,” said Walsh.

Passengers don’t agree there is an issue

There is little evidence passengers, outside of a few rare instances, are clamouring for stronger regulation in this area. An IATA/Motif survey of 4,700 travelers across 11 markets asked passengers how they were treated in the case of delays and cancellations. The survey found:

• 96% of travelers surveyed reported they were ‘very’ or ‘somewhat’ satisfied with their overall flight experience
• 73% were confident they would be treated fairly in the event of operational disruptions
• 72% said that in general airlines do a good job of handling delays and cancellations
• 91% agreed with the statement ‘All parties involved in the delay or cancellation (airlines, airports, air traffic control) should play a role in helping the affected passengers’

“The best guarantor of good customer service is consumer choice and competition. Travelers can and do vote with their feet if an airline – or indeed the entire aviation industry – doesn’t come up to scratch. Politicians should trust the public’s instinct and not regulate away the distinctive business models and choices available to travelers today,” said Walsh.

The article IATA: Aviation consumer protection regulation should address shared responsibilities first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

• Inspirational Role Model: Poppy Khoza – Director of Civil Aviation, South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA)
• High Flyer: Camila Turrieta – Chair of the Diversity, Equity, Belonging, and Inclusion Committee, Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), and First Officer, JetBlue Airways
• Diversity & Inclusion Team: Virgin Atlantic Airways

“In their fourth year, the IATA Diversity & Inclusion Awards play an important role in recognizing the work done by those who go above and beyond in engraining diversity and inclusion in the aviation industry. Through breaking taboos to introducing innovations and changing the status quo, this year’s winners exemplify the true nature of the industry: resilience, persistence and unhindered motivation to drive change,” said Karen Walker, Editor in Chief, Air Transport World and chair of the judging panel.

The other members of the judging panel include the winners of the 2022 awards: Güliz Öztürk, CEO, Pegasus Airlines; Kanchana Gamage, Founder and Director of the Aviatrix Project, and Alina Aronberga, SVP Human Resources, airBaltic.

“I congratulate the winners of the 2023 awards. By their example, they are leading the way to a gender balanced aviation industry. They have pushed boundaries to demonstrate that diversity and inclusion is fundamental to business success. Congratulations to three truly inspirational winners. Women are still under-represented in aviation, but with the help and example of these and previous award winners, we are making progress,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.

Qatar Airways is the sponsor of the Diversity & Inclusion Awards for the fifth consecutive year. Each winner receives a prize of $25,000, payable to the winner in each of the categories or to their nominated charities.

The 2023 IATA Diversity & Inclusion Awards were presented during the World Air Transport Summit (WATS) which followed the 79th IATA Annual General Meeting in Istanbul, Türkiye.

Profiles
Inspirational Role Model: Poppy Khoza – Director of Civil Aviation, South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA)

The international respect for Poppy Khoza was evident in her unanimous election to serve as President for the 41st Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization in 2022. She was the first ever woman to hold that role in ICAO’s 78-year history.

At SACAA, Khoza’s work focuses on providing equal opportunities for women and she has led the transformation of the organization which now boasts women in 50% of executive roles. In her work, Khoza spares no effort in mentoring and coaching other women to challenge the status quo and create a more gender balanced aviation industry.

She is the recipient of numerous awards including the Aviation Sector and Regional Leader Award, Best Chief Executive Officer Award (2015 and 2018). She was also named the Business Leader of the Year during the annual Oliver Empowerment Awards (2018).

High Flyer: Camila Turrieta – Chair of the Diversity, Equity, Belonging, and Inclusion Committee, Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), and First Officer, JetBlue Airways

At ALPA, Turrieta is the voice for diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives for the Association’s 63,000 pilots at 40 airlines. She leads ALPA’s efforts to use gender inclusive terms, expand the Association’s anti-harassment and anti-discrimination policy to promote an environment of inclusiveness in the piloting profession. This led to the FAA requesting her assistance in creating an inclusive culture through positive regulatory changes within the aviation sector.

Camila is a leader and mentor through her work with non-profit affinity organizations such as the Latino Pilots Association, Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals, Women in Aviation, and the International Society of Women Airline Pilots which have the common goal of promoting the piloting profession to underrepresented and marginalized communities.

All this led Camila to receive the President’s Call to Service Award under former US Presidents George W Bush and Barack Obama.

Diversity & Inclusion Team: Virgin Atlantic Airways
Virgin Atlantic Airways is a true pioneer in the area of diversity, equity and inclusion. To support the refresh of the airline’s “Be Yourself” strategy, the company introduced bold changes which included:

• Revising policies to allow visible tattoos while in uniform,
• Launching the reasonable workplace adjustment policy to ensure its employees with disabilities get the support they need,
• Transforming recruitment to remove barriers by focusing on inclusion and accessibility.

These changes were supported with digital training to create awareness and enable confident conversations among employees on the Be Yourself strategy. As a result of the successful implementation of the Be Yourself strategy, Virgin Atlantic’s internal employee network membership has increased over 120% while the company’s employee engagement scores for inclusion increased by 6 percentage points.

Alongside this, Virgin Atlantic Airways relaunched its pioneering “Passport to Change” program, which aims to address inequity in educational learning within local communities.

The article 2023 winners of IATA Diversity & Inclusion Awards announced first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.