Via Dubai Magazine | January 2016

Monthly Newsletter issued by Dubai Civil Aviation Authority

www.viadubaionline.com

Issue 32 January 2016

New carrier AVIC Cargo

Inside DCAA

UK firms develop

established in China

drone-freezing ray

DCAA honours 5 outstanding employees

6

Thank you Mohammed Bin Rashid

CIRO extends invitation 8 to Emirati young genius Adeeb Al Blushi DCAA honours Tejari Software

9

DCAA employees get training on Modern Project Management Techniques

9

IATA raises airline profit forecast again

Airline industry could garner $36.3 billion net profit

UAE in Focus UAE is third largest market for business aircraft in Middle East, with a market share of 17 per cent

12

18

Opinions Reduce airspace fragmentation

Getting to destinations safely

38

Tony Tyler

Technology 45

39

Jeff Poole

DCAA to be exemplary in innovations

FAA’s new technology to crack down on illegal drones

44

Cargo & Logistics 43

10

Airlines 41

Nasser Al Najjar

ATM 36

Our Smart Services DCAA Smart App will allow the customers the below services: • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Issuance of Landing permissions Issuance of No Objection Certificate for Carriage of Restricted Articles Issuance of No Objection Certificate for Aerial Work Issuance of No Objection Certificate for Aircraft Warning Light Issuance of No Objection Certificate for Heliport Issuance of No Objection Certificate for Pyrotechnic Display Issuance of No Objection Certificate for Building Height (Below 300m) Issuance of No Objection Certificate for Building Height (Above 300m) Issuance of Approval for Heliports Certification Issuance of Approval for Crane Operation Issuance of Approval for GSM or other communication tower Issuance of Approval for Balloon Operations Issuance of No Objection Certificate for Sky Trackers / Space Cannon

Registration Requirements: • • • • • • •

Company Name Company Address Telephone Number Fax Number PO Box City Choose one secret questions

• • • • • • •

Username Password Email Address Name Mobile Number Emirates ID Number Category (Individual - Airline - Agency - Expert - Provider)

You can download the application

by searching in App Store and Play Store by typing DCAA or scan the QR code

For more information, please call technical support on: +971 56 6810685 January 2016 2 email: it.support@dcaa.gov.ae

www.dcaa.gov.ae

CONTENTS In 2007, the functions of the Department of Civil Aviation were restructured. Accordingly, the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) was established as a regulatory body, by a decree of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid AlMaktoum, Ruler of Dubai, on proclamation of law No. 21 of 2007, as amended by law No. 19 of 2010, to undertake development of Air Transport Industry in the Emirate of Dubai and to oversee all aviation-related activities.

Via Dubai is the official bilingual monthly newsletter of DCAA, designed to highlight the initiatives and developments in the aviation industry and act as a knowledge-sharing platform for all the stakeholders and aviation professionals.

Inside DCAA 05

DCAA honours outstanding employees

General Supervision Mohammed Abdulla Ahli

06 Thank you Mohammed Bin Rashid

Coordinator Hanan Al Mazimi Creative Manager Mohammed Al Jarouf E-mail: viadubai@naddalshiba.com

Legal Disclaimer The views expressed in the articles are of the writers and not necessarily belong to DCAA. We take all reasonable steps to keep the information current and accurate, but errors can occur. The information is therefore provided as is, with no guarantee of accuracy, completeness or timeliness. The DCAA or Via Dubai does not warrant or assume any legal liability or responsibility for the quality, accuracy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of any information. Via Dubai does not endorse or recommend any article, product, service or information mentioned in the newsletter. Any perceived slight of any person or organisation is completely unintentional.

Advertise with us Editorial, Production, PR & Marketing Nadd AlShiba PR and Event Management

DCAA Interview DCAA to be exemplary in innovations

Tel +971 4 25 66 707 Fax +971 4 25 66 704 info@naddalshiba.com www.naddalshiba.com

10

Nasser Al Najjar

Printed by Printwell Dubai

Our Vision Dubai Civil Aviation Authority is driven by the vision of Dubai to become the global Aviation Capital contributing to prosperity and enabling growth for Dubai.

Our Mission Dubai Civil Aviation Authority is committed to support the aviation sector in:

E-mail: dcaa@dcaa.gov.ae Website: www.dcaa.gov.ae Tel: (971) 4 216 2009 Fax: (971) 4 224 4502 P.O.BOX 49888 Dubai, United Arab Emirates

u Capturing the full value potential as a global passenger, tourism, trade, cargo and logistic hub u Providing the capacity, connectivity and leveraging existing assets to meet the aviation sector and economic growth plans of Dubai u Ensuring sustainable and responsible growth committed to safety, health, environment and security u Providing and creating customer-focused services to gain competitive advantage from innovation, knowledge and efficiency u Building and retaining capabilities, for the aviation sector, while offering career opportunities for Nationals u Ensuring a transparent, effective and commercially balanced regulatory framework that reflects the interests of the aviation industry, Dubai and the UAE u Providing efficient and cost-effective services to the aviation sector

http://www.facebook.com/DCAADubai

twitter.com/DcaaDubai

Januaryyoutube.com/user/dcaadubai 2016

1

CONTENTS

UK firms develop drone-freezing ray

UAE in Focus 12 UAE is third largest market for business aircraft in Middle East, with a market share of 17 per cent

14 UAE- dnata receives 24 32 Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport makes history

seventh certification for IATA’s Safety Audit for Ground Operations

15 Dubai Airports’ annual Safety

and Security Excellence Awards gets 368 nominations

40 Virgin Australia first to use

16 Etihad Airways appoints

42 WorldACD sees ‘glimmers of

17 Emirates’ to screen first six

‘future check-in’ tech from SITA hope’ for 2016

three UAE nationals to new executive positions Star Wars movies

Rwanda to get world’s first airport for drones 34

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January 2016

Message

from the President

Aiming for greater achievements in 2016 W

e are delighted to say that we have succesfully reached our targets for 2015 and these achievements encourage us to accomplish much more.

Our ambition for 2016 is to have greater achievements and also to continue with our contribution to the international aviation industry for the benefit of the travelling public and the people of the world.

The AED 1.9 billion Concourse D, constructed as a part of Dubai Airports Strategic Plan 2020, will become home to over 100 airlines and increase passenger capacity to 90 million. As Concourse D readies to be opened early this year, it will be another major milestone for us in 2016.

We expect to handle to 100 million passengers by 2020 at the Dubai International Airport.

To further enhance our capacity as well as passenger experience, we are making innovative use of technology and improvements in Terminals 1 and 2.

All our efforts and achievements are the result of the inspiration and guidance of our visionary leader His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE’s Vice-President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, who has always encouraged us to be Number 1 and I would like to convey my

Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum

deepest gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed. Year 2015 was another milestone for Dubai’s aviation sector because of the vision of our great ruler.

I would also like to thank all the stakeholders in aviation industry for their contribution and great efforts that have led us to constantly excel.

Particularly the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA), Dubai Airports, Dubai Air Navigation Services (DANS), Emirates Airline and Fly Dubai for their support and achievements.

I would urge all the stakeholders and the employees to continue with their efforts and constantly work toward exceeding their goals in 2016 and make this year another milestone for Dubai’s aviation sector. 

January 2016

3

Message

from the Director General

Many milestones ahead A

t the DCAA, we consider our achievements as our motivation to aim higher and achieve more.

The year that went by is a testimony to this fact.

The UAE is a front-runner in aviation security and in 2015, we made optimal and most innovative use of technology to enhance efficiencies and achieve our goals while keeping a firm focus on safety, all of which reflects in the major initiatives we undertook.

After the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) issued regulations for the operation of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, issued the new law titled “Law No. 7 of 2015 Concerning Airspace Safety and Security in the Emirate of Dubai” to keep the Dubai airspace free and clear of potential safety hazards last year, the DCAA, which is empowered to issue licenses for drone operations under this law, has issued many licenses up to date, besides ensuring the safety of the airspace in the Emirate. We did not stop at that and in order to ensure RPAS users and others are well aware of the right use and safety, the DCAA took upon itself the task of launching an awareness campaign. We also launched an array of new e-services including the latest smart service for the registration of RPAS for commercial and non-commercial purposes.

All these achievements and efforts are the result of the directives and guidance of our visionary leader His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE’s vice-president and Prime Minster and Ruler of Dubai who has always inspired us to excel.

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January 2016

Mohammed Abdulla Ahli

I would also like to convey my sincere gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, for his constant guidance and motivation, which has led us from one success to another.

As we begin the New Year, I also congratulate all the employees of the DCAA and the aviation stakeholders for their continuous efforts to make DCAA the best in every aspect.

We take pride in our achievements and success and we have many milestones to cross in 2016. 

Inside DCAA

DCAA honours outstanding employees D

ubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) has honoured its outstanding employees who have been selected by “Absher” initiative team, a collaborative initiative of the government and the private sector aiming to enhance the participation of national cadres in the labour market, in 20142015.

The ceremony was attended by senior officials, including His Excellency Mohammed Abdulla Ahli, Director General of Dubai Civil Aviation.

The most distinguished employees honours were presented in several categories, including; 1- Employees holding a variety of specialised Diploma, Bachelor and MBA programmes to develop carry on with the tremendous growth in the civil aviation sector.

2- Employees who have been working for more than 20 or 30 years.

3-Employees receiving an absolute majority of votes from the Commission staff on the distinguished staff award.

A collaborative initiative of the government and the private sector, Absher aims to create more job opportunities for UAE nationals and attract them towards private sector employment.

The initiative falls under the strategic framework of the UAE Vision 2021 to promote overall competitiveness in the UAE, a key pillar of which is to enhance the skills and participation of UAE citizens in the labour market. 

January 2016

5

Inside DCAA

Thank you Mohammed Bin Rashid

More than 170 officers express love and gratitude marking 10th anniversary of HH Sheikh Mohammed

M

ore than 170 senior officers from the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Dubai Airports, Dubai Police, General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) in Dubai, Dubai Customs, Emirates Airline and flydubai stood in a sequence at the Dubai Airport Terminal 3 forming a pattern saying ‘Thankyou Mohammed Bin Rashid’, conveying their love and gratitude for His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, marking 10 years of his rule and government.

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January 2016

Inside DCAA

His Excellency Mohammed Abdullah Al Ahli, Director General of DCAA, said on the occasion: “Thankyou Your Highness Mohammed Bin Rashid for your valuable guidance and constant inspiration you have given us all these years.

We are all sincerely grateful from the core of our hearts, you are the best leader, we are fortunate to have a visionary leader like you who has led us to achieve excellence, innovate and invent and have numerous achievements on a global platform.

You are a leader who inspires us to reach great heights and is undeterred by any challenges.”

Commenting on the initiative, Major General Obaid Mohair Bin Surour, Deputy Director General, GDRFA in Dubai, said: “We are proud of and

full of gratitude toward our visionary leader His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid.

We are proud to have a leader who, with his ideas and directives, has put Dubai high on global map, with strong achievements and excellence in every field in a way that Dubai is an example for others to follow as well as has made equal efforts toward cultural and humanitarian issues.”

Brigadier General Ali Ateeq Bin Lahej, Director of the General Department of Airport Security at Dubai Police, who led the initiative, which required coordination and cooperation with senior officers working in different government and private departments at the Dubai Airports, said: “We thought of the idea of forming this pattern to thank His Highness Sheikh

Mohammed Bin Rashid and gave it its final shape within less than 24 hours.”

“It is the wise guidance and directives of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum and the support of Major General Major General Khamis Mattar Al Mazeina as the General Commander of Dubai Police that we were able to coordinate and get cooperation from other departments and implement this idea within 24 hours,” he added.

Brigadier Bin Lahej appreciated the efforts of all those who participated in the initiative to thank His Highness Sheikh Mohammed. He said: “His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum is an institution in himself, a leader who guides and inspires not only his people but the entire world.”

January 2016

7

Inside DCAA

CIRO Extends Invitation to Emirati Young Genius Adeeb Al Blushi O

n a special invitation extended by the Head of the University of Korea for Robotic Research (CIRO), the young Emirati genius inventor Adeeb Al Blushi attended a scientific business trip to Korea to discuss a number of specialized topics, in an effort to come out with scientific and innovative development solutions.

Within this framework, His Excellency Mohammed Abdulla Ahli, DCAA Director General, bade farewell to Al Blushi and his family at al Majlis Hall in Dubai International Airport.

He was accompanied by a number of DCAA managers, including Mr. Saood Kankazar, Director of Air Transport and International Affairs, Ahmad Al Zarouni, Public Relations Manager, Nasser Al Najjar, Director of Information Technology and Balqees Al Junaibi, Media Manager.

8

January 2016

Ahli said: “The DCAA continually seeks to provide support for distinguished personalities, and those who make effective contributions.

Adeeb Al Blushi is one of these distinguished personalities and he represents the promising generations of inventors and scientists, who will contribute to boosting the development and glory of the UAE. We as individuals and as members of DCAA and state institutions and departments must capitalise on the keenness of our leadership in supporting this distinguished category of people by virtue of their researches and inventions, which contribute to the welfare of the nation, members of the society and the world at large.”

“My visit to Korea comes courtesy of a special invitation, and aims at discussing and implementing ideas.

My visit to CIRO is the first of a

kind in the history of this university, which only admits specialist and holders of Masters and Doctoral degrees.

I am the first child to officially visit this grand university, and I look forward to it,” said Blushi.

Adeeb Al Blushi is the first Emirati child to join in the CNN top 8 list of world genius children.

It is noteworthy that His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, has given special attention and care to the young Emirati genius inventor Adeeb Al Blushi, with the aim to engage him in scientific circles to meet with the scientists, specialists and experts of the most scientifically advanced countries in the world, with the aim to reach the highest creative and innovative levels. 

Inside DCAA

DCAA honours Tejari Software

H

is Excellency Mohammed Abdulla Ahli, DCAA Director General, honored Tejari Software staff for their contributions and cooperation in training DCAA employees using the system.

The Tejari Software is a governmental system that facilitates and organizes procurements and link them to set budget. The software acts as a coordinator between DCAA and external suppliers. 

DCAA employees get training on Modern Project Management Techniques

D

CAA organized a three-day training course on ‘Modern Project Management Techniques’ for the Authority’s department managers and section heads.

A first-of-its-kind, the training course aimed at introducing trainees to recent modern techniques deployed in project management, and to keep them updated on the

changes that may occur in the aviation environment.The training focused on and discussed several topics including planning, budgeting and quality. 

January 2016

9

DCAA Interview

Achieves two new ISO certifications in IT systems

DCAA to be exemplary in innovations

T

he Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) is strongly committed to and actively working toward ensuring highest level of customer satisfaction and enhancing efficiencies on a par with international standards.

Optimal and innovative use of Information Technology (IT) plays a key role in achieving its goals.

Nasser Mohammed Nasser Al Najjar, Information Technology Manager with the Corporate Support Department in the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA), who has been involved in most of the IT initiatives by the Authority, is highly inspired by the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE’s Prime Minister and President and the Ruler of Dubai, toward innovation and said that he is keen to contribute to making the DCAA the most innovative government body in the UAE. Nasser, who is a part of the Innovations Team 2016 in the DCAA said in an interview with Via Dubai, “Our goal is to come out with the most innovative ideas and implement them in a way that the DCAA sets an example in the field of innovation for others to follow.”

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January 2016

Nasser Mohammed Nasser Al Najjar Information Technology Manager, Corporate Support Department, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA)

Excerpts from the interview: Can you share with us your role in providing IT support in the DCAA? Information Technology (IT) is embedded in every department and every service of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA). My role is to provide IT support to DCAA’s staff and customers for all the 18 services the Authority offers.

This entails timely and proper response to requests and emergencies that we receive through phone calls, emails and other channels. From 2011, we have been providing IT customer support round the clock, all days of the week, including the weekends. We receive about (30) of calls everyday.

To ensure the best support and seamless functioning within the Authority as well as for our customers, we have

In 2016, our goal is that the DCAA comes out with many firsts and initiatives brought down a significant reduction in response time. From an average of about four hours in the past, our response time to regular incidents is less than 2 hours now. For emergencies, our response time is about 30 minutes.

The DCAA ceaselessly strives for excellence toward which we recently achieved ISO 27001 for our Information Security Management Systems and ISO 20000 certifications for our IT systems. I have been involved with nearly all the IT projects in the

DCAA Interview

DCAA for the last six years and we continuously work toward improving and enhancing efficiencies in systems and resources including people who work here. I recently got my Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, which is the most important industry recognized certification in our area of operation, and the department encourages all employees to go for professional certifications such as PMP, ITIL. What do you think is the role of innovation in attaining excellence?

Our visionary leader His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE’s Vice-President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, continuously inspires and encourages us to be innovative and excel and has also declared 2015 as the Year of Innovation.

The DCAA is committed to encourage innovative ideas and I am a part of the Innovation Team for 2016, wherein my role will be to bring and facilitate implementation of innovative ideas in the DCAA for all segments and departments.

As a part of the Innovations Team of 2016 what are your goals?

The DCAA is strongly committed to the Smart Government and Innovations projects.

Our goal is to make the DCAA the most innovative government body in the country and in the world.

For this, I am keen on bringing in ideas from people from all departments within the DCAA as well as from outside. In support of the Mohammed Bin Rashid UAE Pioneers initiative, I developed a website called www.firstu-

Nasser Al Najjar: I am strongly committed to contribute to making DCAA the most innovative government body in the UAE ae.ae, which has more than 15,000 registrations. Through the website, people can send in their applications for the award.

The UAE Pioneers initiative recognises ‘creative citizens’ who are serving the country through their ideas and visions. In 2014, 43 people were honoured and in 2015 44 people were honoured, including the first doctor, inventor, professor, broadcaster, policewoman and other personalities who have contributed to the nation.

Our goal is to have these creative people and many others bring in innovative ideas which the DCAA will implement.

The ultimate aim is to make the Authority ‘the most innovative’ government body and also link other government bodies through our initiatives.

Does it mean we will see more smart apps and other e-services?

Apps are a regular feature now. In 2013 if you launched a smart app, you could say it is an innovative step. But today, innovation is much beyond that.

In 2016, our goal is that the DCAA comes out with many firsts and initiatives. 

January 2016

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UAE in Focus

UAE is third largest market for business aircraft in Middle East, with a market share of 17 per cent

T

he Middle East and Africa take a 7.9 per cent share of the global business jet shipments in 2014. According to 2014 General Aviation Statistical Databook & 2015 Industry Outlook issued by GAMA, an international trade association representing more than 85 of the world’s leading manufacturers of general aviation airplanes, total airplane shipments increased to 2,454 airplanes, while billings rose to $24.5 billion in 2014.

These figures were highlighted today at the soft launch of a new company named ‘X Jets’ in Dubai byPrivate Jet Charter ( PJC ), one of the world›s largest independent private jet charter brokers, and Jet Connections, an international company specialising in private aircraft management, sales and acquisition. The new company will specialise in offering full-fledged aircraft management services.

X Jets deal will cover the Middle East region, and plans expansion into Africa and India later in 2016. This step reinforces the position of Dubai as a world class aviation centre and it is the newest addition to the aircraft management industry in the region The initial operations are set to begin in Q1 2016 driven by the global networks of both companies. X Jets is targeting a significant market share of the air charter management sector in

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January 2016

2016, according to Hugh Courtenay, Chairman of the new company and Founder and Chief Executive of PJC .

“The aircraft industry in the Middle East continues product development and innovation which improves deliveries. Business jet delivery is huge in the Middle East, which has driven us to launch this new company.

X Jets will provide a strong growth driver in a very fast expanding market,” says Courtenay. “X Jets will be supported by two leading jet fleet operators, which offer maximum ease, affordability and availability round the clock to our clients. Our global network backed with the reliable services of Jet Connections will help in offering superior services to clients of X Jets.”

Zaher Deir, Managing Director of X Jets and Jet Connections said: “We are delighted to launch this new com-

pany. Selecting Dubai as a base for X Jets is ideal as it is a gateway to all other markets. We believe there is immense scope of growth of executive charter air services in the Middle East region.”

The company opened its headquarters in Dubai, one of the fastest growing and huge potential aviation hubs in the world. According to recent industry reports, the UAE is the third largest market for business aircraft in Middle East with 17% market share.

Through Dubai, the new addition to aircraft management industry in the Middle East, X Jets will offer a wide range of distinguished jet aircraft services, including world-wide aircraft charter, turn-key jet aircraft management and maintenance, jet aircraft sales and acquisitions and expert, competent staff catering to every travel need. 

UAE in Focus

UAE airlines anticipate another peak travel week with DSF and New Year celebrations

E

mirates and fludubai have advised passengers to arrive in time at the airports to avoid last minute rush as hundreds and thousands of passengers travel during the holiday season.

Travel is expected to reach an alltime high at the end of this week for Emirates, as the airline expects yet another busy period with visitors flocking into Dubai for New Year’s celebrations and the upcoming Dubai Shopping Festival.

Mohammed H. Mattar, Divisional Senior Vice President, Emirates Airport Services said: “With another record breaking week coming up, we want to ensure that passing through the airport is as stress-free as possible. During the upcoming busy travel period, passengers should provide plenty of time for airport check-in and secu-

rity screening, and factor in more time into their travel plans to ensure they arrive to their gates on time.”

Flydubai, which operates from Terminal 2 (DXB) together with its new operations from Al Maktoum International at Dubai World Central (DWC), is also expecting a surge in number of passengers .

Emirates reminds customers to arrive at the airport at least 3 hours before their flight departs, and factor in extra time to arrive to the airport in case they experience heavy road traffic heading to Terminal 3.

Customers who check-in less than 60 minutes to their scheduled flight departure will not be accepted.

These time checks will ensure the minimization of delays and missed connections.

For families, Emirates has designated special areas for families consisting of 10 economy checkin counters in Terminal 3 at Area 2, which are designed with their needs in mind.

Passengers are also urged to check the permitted list of carry-on and checked-in items for safe travel this holiday season. 

January 2016

13

UAE in Focus

UAE- dnata receives seventh certification for IATA’s Safety Audit for Ground Operations

A

nother milestone in dnata’s continual focus on safety and security has been achieved with the air services provider’s Sydney headquarters and station receiving registration for IATA’s Safety Audit for Ground Operations ISAGO in December. This is the seventh key station in dnata’s ground handling operations to receive the certification.

The other ground operations which are ISAGO-registered are Dubai Ge-

neva Manila Melbourne Singapore and Zurich.

ISAGO is an internationally recognised system for assessing the operational management and control systems of an organisation that provides ground handling services for airlines. It is based on industry-proven quality audit principles and is structured to ensure a standardised audit with consistent results across

aviation businesses. The implementation of the ISAGO aims to improve safety as well as manage airline costs by reducing ground accidents and injuries.

“Safety has always been a core value in dnata’s culture. There is nothing more important to us than ensuring the safety and security of our staff.

Investing the time and effort in ensuring compliance with ISAGO standards reflect our commitment to continuous improvement in safety standards.

It also demonstrates our goal to operate within globally recognised industry best practices and we aim to have all our stations progressively registered with ISAGO” said Ross Marino Senior Vice President International Airport Operations. 

Abu Dhabi Airports awards Duty Free contracts for the Midfield Terminal Building

A

bu Dhabi Airports today awarded contracts to two of the world’s most innovative Duty Free operators, Aer Rianta International and Lagardère Capital, to provide Duty Free concessions in the Midfield Terminal Building (MTB).

The Aer Rianta International group (ARI), a leading airport retail management company with operations at airports in Europe, New Zealand, North America and the Middle East, will design and operate Duty Free space dedicated to perfumes, cosmet-

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January 2016

ics, skincare, sunglasses and jewelry.

Lagardère, a global leader in travel retail, will oversee the tobacco, confectionery, and fine foods categories, in partnership with Abu Dhabi Capital Group.

The tender process started in February last year. Retail operators were asked to submit concepts which would capture the essence of Arabian hospitality, combined with retail execution that would offer sensational shopping experiences to the 30 million passengers who are expected

to use the MTB when it opens. H.E. Ali Majed Al Mansoori, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Airports , said: “Offering an unrivalled, sensational travel experience to passengers sits at the heart of everything we aim to deliver at the Midfield Terminal Building - the future gateway to the capital city.

We received several very strong bids for these contracts, but Aer Rianta International and Lagardère Capital came up with ideas that will set new benchmarks in airport retail.” 

UAE in Focus

Dubai Airports’ annual Safety and Security Excellence Awards gets 368 nominations

T

he Dubai Airports 5th Annual Safety & Health Security Excellence Awards, which were conducted recently received 368 nominations for 25 award categories from 66 organistions in 2015. This year, the scope of the awards was widened to recognise excellence in security and food hygiene.

international passengers in 2014.

DXB is expected to welcome 79 million passengers this year, and the number will only increase as we continue to grow, requiring us to accommodate that growth while deliver on and enhance on our safety and security commitment,” said HE Jamal Al Hai, Deputy CEO of Dubai Airports.

“Safety and security have always been top priorities for Dubai Airports but their scope and magnitude has undergone a major change in recent years, especially with the DXB emerging as the world’s number one airport for

Dubai is preparing to welcome 126 million passengers, which will include participants and delegations to the Dubai Expo 2020, at its two airports DXB and Dubai World Central (DWC) by 2020. 

Paul Griffiths named Asia Pacific Airport Chief Executive of the Year

D

ubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths was named the CAPA Asia Pacific Airport Chief Executive of the Year. A new category established for 2015, this award is given to the airport executive who has demonstrated outstanding strategic thinking and innovative direction for the growth of their business and the industry.

DXB wins Best Airport at the Ultimate Luxury Travel Related Awards (ULTRAs)

D

ubai International (DXB), the world’s number one airport for international passengers, won the award for Best Airport at the inaugural Middle East ULTRAs (Ultimate Luxury Travel Related Awards) in Dubai recently.

Readers of luxury travel magazine Ultratravel who voted online across 20 categories to select the best airlines, airports, hotels, cruise operators and holiday destinations, chose Dubai International as the best airport over runners up Changi Airport in Singapore, Hong Kong International Airport, Seoul’s Incheon International Airport, and Heathrow Airport, London.

“We would like to thank the readers of Ultratravel for making us the winners with their overwhelming support; it means a lot to us.

Griffiths accepted the award from CAPA Executive Director Peter Harbison at an event held in Singapore on November 23. Griffiths was selected for successfully managing Dubai through a massive expansion programme and completing an unprecedented runway improvement project. 

This award is special for a number of reasons, most importantly the nomination process which involves members of the public, the top quality competition and the fact that it is the inaugural event for ULTRAs here in the Middle East,” said Anita Mehra, Senior Vice President of Communications & Reputation at Dubai Airports. 

January 2016

15

UAE in Focus

Etihad Airways appoints three UAE nationals to new executive positions E

tihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has announced the appointment of three UAE nationals to key executive roles.

Captain Salah Alfarajalla, who has been with Etihad Airways since 2007, becomes Senior Vice President Security and National Pilot Development, Ghudayer Al Dhaheri, who joined the airline in 2013, becomes Vice President Corporate Security, and Sultan Mohamed Al Mahmoud joins the airline as Vice President Corporate Strategy.

Ray Gammell, Etihad Airways’ Chief People and Performance Officer, said: “I am delighted to announce the new executive roles for Captain Salah and Ghudayer and to welcome Sultan to the Etihad Airways family. Their varied and extensive professional backgrounds reinforce and expand the impressive executive management expertise we have in our team.”

Ray Gammell added: “Captain Salah’s tenure as Vice President Corporate Security and National Pilot Development - a position he has held since 2010 – has been highlighted by renewed strategic planning and insights. He has played a pivotal role in the successful development and efficiency of our aviation security systems and was the driving force behind the Etihad Airways Cadet Pilot Programme ensuring a continuous stream of qualified UAE national pilots to pursue rewarding careers at Etihad Airways.”

In his new role, Captain Salah will be responsible for aviation and corporate

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January 2016

security, and will continue to oversee the Etihad Airways’ cadet pilot programme.

Captain Salah has 36 years’ experience in the aviation industry, incorporating 22 years in the UAE Air Force and Air Defence, from which he retired as a Colonel, and 10 years as Deputy Chief Executive for Presidential Flight.

At Etihad Airways, he played an instumental role in managing the aviation security systems including physical, technical, operational and procedural security measures. Under his leadership, the cadet pilot programme grew to more than 700 cadets including more than 600 UAE nationals, and became a fully fledged academic programme when a unique partnership with Abu Dhabi University was forged in 2011 requiring all cadets to obtain a degree in Aviation Science.

Before joining Etihad Airways in 2013, Ghudayer Al Dhaheri was a UAE Air Force fighter pilot and commander with broad experience both in the UAE and overseas. He was a commandant at the Air Warfare Centre AFAD UAE, and a member of the Royal College of Defense Studies in London, UK. In his new role as Vice President Corporate Security, Ghudayer will report to Captain Salah and will provide strategic policy and management guidance for the implementation of protective and

proactive security measures for staff, guests, facilities and other resources within the UAE and in other countries on the network.

Ray Gammell said: “Ghudayer has indepth knowledge of the region’s security issues and has demonstrated commitment to the highest levels of security for our people, assets and guests. I am confident he will continue to spearhead efforts that strengthen and reinforce relevant corporate security solutions for Etihad Airways.”

Sultan Mohamed Al Mahmoud joins Etihad Airways from the Tourism Development and Investment Company (TDIC), where he held a number of director level roles which gave him exposure to various Abu Dhabi tourism development stakeholders. He will put his work insights and experience, gained over the last 14 years, to good use by developing and implementing short, medium and long-term strategies that will see Etihad Airways further strengthen its position as key contributor to Abu Dhabi’s GDP and the UAE more broadly.

Ray Gammell added: “With his experience and participation in board committees, Sultan will add an exciting dimension to our strategy team, especially as we continue to focus on improving our internal governance and strategic frameworks.” 

UAE in Focus

Dubai International’s passenger numbers top 6.25 million in October

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assenger traffic at Dubai International, rose 4.4 per cent in October, according to a traffic report issued today by operator Dubai Airports.

Passenger numbers in October totalled 6,250,810, compared to 5,989,007 recorded in October of last year. Year to date traffic rose 11.2 per cent to 64,947,687 compared to 58,411,554 recorded during the same period last year.

Aircraft movements rose to 34,917 during October, up 6.5 per cent from the 32,798 recorded during the same month last year. Year to date aircraft movements were up 16 per cent to 337,316 compared to 290,779 recorded during the corresponding period in 2014 due primarily to the impact of the 80-day runway upgrade programme conducted last year. Passengers per aircraft movement in October came in at 188, while the year to date figure remained a high 202 – driven by the Emirates’ fleet of wide-body aircraft. 

Jeppesen partners with Emirates to optimise crew planning operations

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eppesen, a part of Boeing Commercial Aviation Services, has teamed with Emirates, the Dubai-based international airline, to optimize crew planning operations.

Emirates has now fully entered Jeppesen Crew Rostering services into its operations, which was introduced to improve efficiency and lower costs related to crew management functions, while respecting crew preferences.

“We have successfully worked in tandem with Jeppesen over the past two years to transition our crew rostering process,” said Capt.Alan Stealey, Emirates divisional senior vice president, Flight Operations. “This partnership now allows us to create optimized monthly rosters for approximately

27,000 global crew members, in one production run.”

Jeppesen Crew Rostering is a component of a family of crew management solutions that optimize operations and increase efficiency for airlines. Jeppesen Crew Rostering takes into account numerous factors to create efficient roster assignments, including crew preferences, and all relevant constraints on duty time, rest time, days off, time zones and other factors. 

Emirates’ to screen first six Star Wars movies

E

mirates customers will be able to enjoy the first six Star Wars movies in one from January. For the first time, these films will be available on Emirates’ inflight entertainment system, ice.

This will include: Star Wars: A New Hope (1977); Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980); Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (1983); Star Wars: The Phantom Menace (1999); Star Wars: Attack of the Clones (2002) and Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith (2005).

“We always aim to offer our passengers the best content on board and are delighted to bring the first six Star Wars movies to our screens. With a total run time of over 13 hours, customers could watch all six films at one go on some of our long haul flights. It will allow Star Wars enthusiasts to re-watch the classic films and gives others a chance to see why these movies have such a huge fan base worldwide,” said Patrick Brannelly, Emirates’ divisional Vice president – customer experience. 

January 2016

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Cover Story

IATA raises airline profit forecast again

Airline industry could garner $36.3 billion net profit

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he International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) airline industry outlook for 2016 sees an average net profit margin of 5.1 per cent being generated with total net profits of $36.3 billion.

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January 2016

Cover Story

In both 2015 and 2016, the industry’s return on capital (8.3 per cent and 8.6 per cent, respectively) is expected to exceed the industry’s cost of capital, “an historic achievement for an industry that has been notorious for destroying capital throughout its history”, according to IATA Director General and Chief Executive Officer Tony Tyler.This strengthening industry performance, said IATA, is being driven by a combination of factors including lower oil prices which are giving airline profits a boost, strong demand for passenger level. strong economic performance in some key economies and efficiency gains by airlines “This is a good news story. The airline industry is delivering solid financial and operational performance.

Passengers are benefiting from greater value than ever—with competitive airfares and product investments.

Environmental performance is improving. More people and businesses are being connected to more places than ever. Employment levels are rising. And finally our shareholders are beginning to enjoy normal returns on their investments,” said Tyler.

In 2016 total passenger numbers are expected to rise to 3.8 billion traveling over some 54,000 routes.

Profitability in Perspective

In both 2015 and 2016 the industry’s return on capital (8.3 per cent and 8.6 per cent respectively) is expected to exceed the industry’s cost of capital (estimated to be just under 7.0 per cent in 2015 and 2016 because of low bond yields).

“This is an historic achievement for an industry that has been notorious for destroying capital throughout its history. But let’s keep that achievement in perspective.

With net profit margins still in the 5 per cent range there is little buffer.

Achieving returns that barely exceed the cost of capital means that airlines are finally meeting the minimum expectations of their shareholders. For most other industries this is the norm and not the exception.

And this is coming as expectations build that we are nearing the top of the business cycle.

On average airlines will still make less than $10 per passenger carried.

The industry’s profitability is better described as ‘fragile’ than ‘sustainable’,” said Tyler.There are several indicators that improvements in airline profitability are likely to slow.

The first is found in the cyclical nature of the airline business. Historically the airline industry profitability cycle is 8-9 years from peak to peak (or trough to trough). The low point of this cycle was 2009.

The second is the anticipation of the economic impact of interest rates rising from current exceptionally low levels. And lastly, airlines will soon

Profitability to improve 5.1 per cent have realized the maximum positive impact of lower fuel prices with most of the higher-than-market hedges due to unwind in 2016.

2016 2016 will continue the main trends from 2015. Major drivers of performance in 2016 include:Revenues: Revenues are expected to rise by 0.9 per cent to $717 billion in 2016. Industry revenues peaked in 2014 at $758 billion, then declined to $710 billion in 2015 with the impact of the strengthening of the US dollar on non-dollar revenues.

The increase in revenues in 2016 is expected to be wholly due to the contribution of the passenger side of the business ($525 billion in 2015 rising to $533 billion in 2016). Cargo revenues are expected to decline slightly to $50.8 billion (from $52.2 billion in 2015).

January 2016

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Cover Story

Middle East carriers expected to see collective profits of 1.7$ billion in 2016 Demand: The demand for passenger travel is expected to grow by 6.9 per cent (similar to the 6.7 per cent growth expected in 2015) with 3.8 billion passengers expected to travel in 2016. Passenger capacity is expected to grow slightly ahead of demand at 7.1 per cent which is an acceleration from the 5.5 per cent capacity expansion in 2015. Demand for air cargo is expected to accelerate in 2016 to 3.0 per cent, ahead of the 1.9 per cent growth in 2015.

This is slightly ahead of GDP growth which is expected to average 2.7 per cent in 2016.

Prior to the Global Financial Crisis this pace of economic growth would have generated much faster international trade and air cargo growth, but that pattern of growth appears to have stopped as companies bring supply chains closer to home. In total, the industry is expected to uplift 52.7 million tonnes of cargo in 2016.

Yields: The cost of travel and shipping is expected to continue to decline with average yields for passengers falling 5 per cent and cargo falling by 5.5 per cent in 2016. The pace of decline is a deceleration from 2015 when cargo yields are expected to fall by 18.0 per cent and passenger yields by 11.7 per cent. About 6.0 percentage points of the 2015 decline can be attributed to the appreciation of the US dollar and the impact this has when accounting for non-US dollar revenues.

Regional Differences The industry’s performance varies dramatically by region.

North America: North American carriers are leading the industry’s performance and are expected to generate considerably more than half the industry’s total profits in both 2015 ($19.4 billion) and 2016 ($19.2 billion). On a per passenger basis, profits of $21.44 in 2016 also places their performance at the top of the industry. This is as a result of a strong US economy, the appreciating US dollar, lower oil prices and a restructured industry.

Capacity growth by North American airlines is expected to accelerate from 3.7 per cent in 2015 to 4.8 per cent in 2016 on the strength of the US economy.

Europe: European airlines are expected to deliver performance improvements with net profits increasing from $6.9 billion in 2015 to $8.5 billion in 2016. Lower fuel costs (hedging rates of 80-90 per cent for the majority of large airlines has delayed much of the benefit from low fuel prices into 2016), a faster than expected recovery of the European economy and strong performance on business travel on North Atlantic routes is benefitting the region.

However, performance is very patchy with intense and increasing competition on intra-European markets reducing the financial performance of some of those exposed to these markets. On a per passenger basis, however, profits are $8.80 which places their performance significantly behind that of North American carriers.

Capacity growth is expected to accelerate from 3.9 per cent in 2015 to 6.2 per cent in 2016 with Turkey being a major driver.

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January 2016

Cover Story

Asia-Pacific: Profits for the Asia-Pacific region are expected to grow from $5.8 billion in 2015 to $6.6 billion in 2016. Overall profits per passenger for 2016 are forecast at $5.13, well behind both the US and Europe. Although the Chinese economy has slowed, air travel remains strong.

The region’s carriers will benefit more fully from the impact of lower fuel prices in 2016 as hedges unwind. The region is, however, in the front line for the impact of continued weakness in cargo revenues. Passenger capacity growth is expected to accelerate from 6.0 per cent in 2015 to 8.4 per cent in 2016 as new aircraft are delivered largely to accommodate growth in the major emerging markets of India, Indonesia and China.

Middle East: Middle East carriers are expected to see collective profits of $1.4 billion i n 2015. The region is expected to witness a $1.7 billion net profit in 2016..

Profit per passenger of $7.97 forecast for 2016 is slightly less than that expected for European airlines and almost a third of what North American airlines are achieving.

Overall the region is still generating double-digit growth. Capacity is expected to expand by 12.1 per cent and 12.2 per cent, respectively, in 2015 and 2016 largely as a result of growth in traffic over the region’s modern hubs.

Latin America: The performance of carriers in Latin America is weak on the back of the deepening economic crisis in Brazil, weak commodity prices and adverse currency fluctuations. The region is expected to finish 2015 with a $300 million loss, recovering to a $400 million profit in 2016. Recent elections in Venezuela and Argentina are expected to result in a more business-friendly environment for airlines.

These are both key markets where government controls have blocked

the repatriation of airline profits (some $3.78 billion in Venezuela).

The region is still expected to see a robust capacity growth of 5.6 per cent in 2015 accelerating to 7.5 per cent in 2016 on the strength of demand on links with North America.

Africa: Airlines in Africa are expected to be in the red in both 2015 and 2016 with losses of $300 million and $100 million, respectively.

The region’s losses per passenger make its performance in 2015 worse than Latin America’s. Political instability is impacting important tourism markets in North Africa.

The continent’s carriers in general suffer from weak economies and stiff competition on international markets. Growth is also weak, with a 0.4 per cent capacity expansion expected for 2015 increasing to 1.6 per cent in 2016. 

January 2016

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Special Report

EU Secondary Airports

Current challenges future prospects The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is working on new payment methods called IATA EasyPay as part of the ongoing efforts towards a sustainable financial health for the industry estimated to be worth $714 billion in 2015, representing 42 per cent growth in five years.

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January 2016

Special Report

Around 250 European secondary airports are largely affected by the changing structure of the airline industry – and most losing money.

made to increase the chances of sustainability and to permit secondary airports to flourish to their full extent.”

A latest study for the European Parliament’s Committee on Transport and Tourism says the existence of many European secondary airports is fragile due to several external influences over which they have no control and yet overly inhibited by regulation which imposes excessive costs whilst limiting commercial freedom.

Flexible Approach

The study, conducted by JLS Consulting for the European Parliament’s Directorate General for Internal Policies, argued that they face structural challenges of limits to potential demand, strong seasonality and the impact of consolidation and changed business models in the airline industry.

It noted: “Competition between airports for air services is intense. The role of secondary airports as key economic catalysts is without question but there is a really diverse spectrum of experience. They serve multiple types of traffic, but how valuable and critical this role is can only be decided effectively by the local communities themselves. There should be as much freedom as possible for local communities for making decisions as to whether to support an airport by taking account of its wider external economic benefits beyond any direct losses.”

It added: “There are also examples of innovation to find new ways of doing things and at the same time frustration about things which cannot be done due to financial and regulatory limitations.

The outlook remains difficult but a number of recommendations can be

The study says a more ‘flexible’ approach to the concept of Public Service Organization (PSO) routes, as demonstrated by a number of the examples, would be a way to produce outcomes more tailored to market needs and to reduce costs and public budget burden. For many small airports it is unrealistic to assume either they can eliminate losses over the next 10 years or there is widespread over-capacity, argues John Strickland, who authored the study.

The study recommended that a new regulatory approach should be taken with the maximum local autonomy to decide on needs and whether to invest or not. There needs to be ‘recognition and moves to correct the lack of level playing field’ with respect to other transport infrastructure, particularly the privileged position of railways with their high levels of subsidy.

The airlines using secondary airports, it asserts, are already much focused on efficiency and use aircraft with the latest engine technology and efforts should be made to expedite progress on the SESAR programme to assist airlines and airports in their attempts to reduce emissions.

The pubic document disclosed that around 250 European secondary airports are affected by the changing structure of the airline industry and that most of them are losing money.

It shows, however, that these similarities shall not mask the diversity of experience and circumstances, and the very different roles played by these airports that handle less than five million passengers per annum

- a good one third of them less than 200,000. The EU secondary airports accounts for over 260 million passengers per annum.

All second airports have struggled with the depth of the economic crisis since 2008; some have lost traffic whilst others have failed. They have been affected by the changing struc-

January 2016

23

Special Report

ture of the airline industry as its trend to consolidate continues and Low Cost Carriers (LCCs) become ever more important players in the provision of short haul European flights.

Equally secondary airports must compete on a pan European basis to successfully win and maintain commercially based air services. The study analyzed the 2004-2013 data provided by ACI Europe for 243 airports. As of 2013 a small core of large regional airports are performing strongly, achieving passenger volumes between three and five million. Increased activity by LCCs has been a strongly positive factor for a number of these airports.

“For airports between one and three million passengers, traffic has fluctuated both favorably and adversely depending on individual circumstances and economic conditions.

In many cases, airports depend wholly or substantially on just one airline.

In such cases airline failure or withdrawal can see a regional airport lose a massive percentage of its business overnight,” the study opined.

Significant impact by LCCs

Many airports have experienced strong growth as LCC’s have opened aircraft bases and added

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January 2016

routes; others have seen sharp traffic falls when capacity has been withdrawn. There are many small airports which contribute strongly to their local economies and which face no competition from other close by airports, but which nevertheless face challenging conditions of existence.

Both the airports and their catchment areas are relatively homogenous and therefore readily substitutable for pan-European airlines such as LCCs. Competitive pressure dictates that they have little or no negotiating power with airlines to levy anything other than minimal charges.

Since the advent of LCC’s, overall market dynamics have shifted and in many cases enormous growth can be delivered in small markets, or entirely new markets created, by the price stimulation which they can deliver.

There are occasions when an airport may be able to negotiate a commercial deal with an LCC providing much more capacity and access to the market with a far wider economic benefit than a PSO and its rigid framework could possibly deliver.

It can also be possible to do this at a lower cost than the subsidy which a PSO entails.

LCCs have played a pivotal role in improving affordability, especially for those who are self-employed or for small businesses. They have also dramatically broadened the choice of destinations which are valuable for business travellers from many secondary airports, a key component of the economic catalyst role which they fulfill. Many secondary airports play a crucial role in handling leisure traffic.

In numerous cases it is the only traffic source. For many cities and regions inbound tourism represents their economic life blood. This is particularly true in countries such as Greece, Ireland, Portugal and Spain where tourism has been one of the few positive elements in the ongoing economic crisis.

For secondary airports in a number of countries, migrant (ethnic) and worker traffic is a very important part of their business and a key contribution to their communities. These communities form an important part of the economic fabric in many regions of the country. Strong links remain with their home countries, which in themselves generate economic exchanges in the form of “friends and family” visits contributing to the economic activity of many French regions.

Special Report

Financial crisis and seasonality

Secondary airports of all Member States, with the exception of Romania, were touched by the financial crisis in 2008. Sharp traffic falls were recorded in 2009. Almost 21 million fewer passengers used secondary airports in 2009 than in 2008.

By the end of 2013 traffic volumes had grown to 264 million passengers, 30 per cent higher than in 2004.

However whilst this seemingly optimistic global figure demonstrates the importance of secondary airports within the EU, it hides significant differences between Member States.

Almost all airports are exposed to strong seasonality and broadly speaking smaller secondary airports are unable to sustain year round high frequency routes which primary airports benefit from.

Nor is the experience an equal or necessarily predictable one for airports.

Some airports experience relatively stable passenger volumes all year but these tend to be those smaller airports performing a social role and supporting a mobility function for their local communities. Secondary airports serve multiple traffic flows and it is essential to understand that these are not necessarily discrete.

PSO routes

Public Service Obligation (PSO) routes are frequently necessary to ensure that remote communities, cities and regions can be connected to major urban centres and/or capital cities for numerous reasons ranging from access to health and educational services, to facilitating delivery of supplies and providing connectivity to onward travel from larger airports including, but not exclusively, hubs.

The rationale is to cover losses on air services which would not be sustainable on a commercial basis. At the end of 2014, PSO routes are operated in 10 Member-States, most commonly in island regions such as Scandinavia, Greece and the Highlands and Islands of Scotland.

France however is by far the most concerned Member States with 42 PSO routes. PSO routes serve a valuable purpose in the right context but are not always appropriate and can prove to be expensive and inflexible solutions to delivering air services.

Across Europe, few of any such routes are operated as PSO’s but even so significant commercial support may be required to motivate an airline to launch and continue such a route

Revenue generation

The ability to generate non aeronautical revenues is much lower at secondary airports. This directly reflects the lower volumes of passengers which can be achieved as well as the impact of seasonality and even the type of customer: there can be big variances in spend per passenger according to such factors as nationality and motive of travel. Airports with less than 200,000 passengers per year have very few opportunities to generate more than a fraction of the commercial revenues achieved by larger airports.

Higher operating costs

Small airports find themselves in a vicious circle of higher operating costs, on a per passenger basis, combined with extremely limited opportunities to grow their commercial revenues. There certainly needs to be a commercial approach by all airport managements regardless of size and to really seek out opportunities for incremental revenue. The balance between generating revenue and making an airport appealing is a challenging one. Secondary airports are faced with permanent costs imposed by regulations, which may be justified at large primary airports, but which are frequently unduly onerous and costly for smaller airports, especially those below 200,000 passengers per annum. ď‚ƒ

January 2016

25

In Focus

Best international airports in 2015

Conde Nast Traveller announces world’s best airports outside the US C

ondé Nast Traveler announced top international airports outside the US in 2015 based on its readers’ ratings.

Dubai International ranked second best international airport with the readers rating it high for the lavish VIP lounges, ease of access, free WiFi and terming it as one of the nicest hubs to connect through. Dubai International has also been awarded the world’s number one hub for international passengers at the Conde Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards Middle East.

“We are very thankful to our customers for this recognition, and for endorsing our efforts to enhance the range, choice and quality of our service offerings at DXB,” said Anita

Mehra, Vice President of Communications & Business Development at Dubai Airports.

DXB was voted as the favourite among the international hubs based on 24/7 availability of a wide variety of contemporary food and beverage options, a top-class range of retail brands, the comfort of the airside hotels, and unique services such as concourse spa treatments and sleeping pods.

Here are the top international airports outside the US by Conde Nast Traveler readers’ ratings:

Changi Airport Singapore:

Voted #1 airport in the world, for nearly as many times as Singapore Airlines has been voted #1 airline, Changi Airport Singapore’s highest score was for easy access with an army of metered taxis to and from the city center for around $30.

There’s free Wi-Fi throughout, and more than 500 internet stations.

If you have a layover of at least six hours, there are two free city tours to choose from–City Lights or Heritage.

Best of all, however, is The Slide, an all-ages-friendly, four-storey wonder to scoot down in Terminal 3.

Dubai International Airport

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January 2016

In Focus

Dubai International ranks second best international airport in the world, awarded world’s number one hub for international passengers

Changi Airport Singapore (SIN)

Hong Kong International Airport (HKG)

Dubai International Airport:

With a 77.88 rating from the readers, Dubai International is home base for the ever-growing, highly-rated Emirates airlines. Its highest score was for its many lavish VIP Lounges.

First and Business Class travelers departing from the A Gates can board their planes directly from each lounge.

With a Zen Garden, free Wi-Fi, and complimentary showers, it’s one of the nicest hubs to connect through (and there are more than 6,500 flights per week to every conceivable corner of the globe).

Seoul Incheon (ICN)

Hong Kong International Airport (HKG):

Despite having a stellar Airport Express train (with free Wi-Fi onboard), this airport’s highest score was for its VIP Lounges. Home to Hong Kong’s

January 2016

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In Focus

Abu Dhabi International Airport

Hamad International Airport, Doha

multiple domestic routes. By passenger counts, it’s the third busiest airport in Asia and fourth busiest in the world, able to handle 90 million people per year after its expansion in 2010. JAL (Japan Air Lines) dominates.

Hamad International Airport, Doha:

own award-winning airline, Cathay Pacific, it accommodates another 99 carriers and serves an astonishing 50 cities in mainland China (a far cry from the capacity the city’s old airport, Kai Tak, was able to handle until replaced in 1998).

Seoul Incheon (ICN):

The sleek airport is open and efficiently laid out and its highest score was for the airport’s VIP Lounges, especially those that are bigger than most, offered by Korea’s two major carriers: Korean Air and Asiana Airlines.,

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January 2016

but it can be over an hour-long drive in dense traffic to the center of Seoul from the coastal port city of Incheon.

Tokyo Haneda (HND):

On number six, got its highest score for its easy access, which is so much closer to the city center than big sister Narita (it’s only a 13-minute connection to the Tokyo subway system on the Keikyu Line or Monorail).

Delta and ANA (All Nippon Airways) fly nonstop from Los Angeles daily, but Haneda’s strongest point is its

Highest score, again, was for Doha Airport’s VIP Lounges—notably those for the state-owned airline, Qatar. There are eight in all for premium class passengers, an Unaccompanied Minors Lounge, and a handful of Quiet Rooms available for all travelers. Another nice touch is the Activity Nodes, which keep kids entertained with TVs, computers, and games.

Abu Dhabi International Airport:

With a readers’ rating of 70.948, AHU is the eight best international airport outside the US. The airport got the highest score was for it’s VIP Lounges (seven in all), including a handful exclusively for the largest carrier, Etihad Airways. In addition, there are 24 Finnish-designed GoSleep sleeping pods in Terminal 3: Comfy chairs that convert into fully enclosed lay-flat

In Focus

Tokyo Haneda (HND)

beds. There’s also the option to use free shower facilities.

Zurich Airport (ZRH)

Zurich Airport (ZRH):

Highest score was for the airport’s VIP Lounges, which have five for SWISS International Air Lines alone (including an arrivals lounge), and an opulent sanctuary for passengers on Emirates. Browsing the duty-free shops for chocolate here isn’t half bad, either.

Vancouver International Airport:

Readers’ Rating: 70.227: Second only to Toronto as Canada’s busiest airport, Vancouver International Airport offers multiple routes across the Pacific to Asia, as well as polar routes to Europe.

Vancouver International Airport

Highest score was for easy access to the airport via the rapid transit Canada Line—taking less than half an hour from city center to terminals for under $10.Construction of the original airport in 1930 was partially inspired

by Charles Lindbergh, who famously said the city was unfit for landing.

He’d be surprised to know that 19.4 million flyers now think otherwise. 

January 2016

29

Middle East News

Saudi Arabian Airlines launches ‘Albayraq’ VIP service

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arking an important milestone in its local planned growth strategy, Saudi Arabian Airlines ( Saudia ) has announced its new VIP service called «Al Bayraq» connecting Jeddah to Riyadh and operating 12 flights a day in cooperation with Saudi Private Aviation, according to a report in Saudi Gazette.

The announcement was made during the Saudi Private Aviation by Eng. Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, Director General of Saudia , with the attendance of Faisal Ghazi Kayal, Managing Director,Saudia Private Aviation , top executives of Saudi Airlines and media representatives.

SITA to modernise EgyptAir’s communication network

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GYPTAIR has signed a fiveyear contract with air transport communications specialist, SITA, for the implementation, management and modernization of the airline’s entire communications network.

This will provide mission-critical connectivity to EGYPTAIR ‹s headquarters and across more than 190 sites around the globe.

SITA, as the main provider of network communications to EGYPTAIR , is providing a state-ofthe-art network which will ensure

secure and reliable connectivity to help increase operational efficiency.

The announcement follows SITA’s recent appointments to work with the Egyptian Airports Company (EAC) and Hurghada International Airport.

EGYPTAIR has signed a five-year contract with air transport communications specialist, SITA, for the implementation, management and modernization of the airline’s entire communications network. 

He announced that the new service “ Albayraq” will start officially med-February heading from Jeddah to Riyadh and back forth. 

BIAS launches Civil Aviation Conference

T

he Bahrain International Airshow (BIAS), back for its fourth edition, is introducing a new element for this edition of the Airshow - a Civil Aviation Conference.The show which runs from 21-23 January 2016 - will showcase aerospace companies from Civil, Defence, Business Aviation and Unmanned Aerial Systems to name but a few.

In addition, the exhibition feature hall will showcase companies directly involved with Bahrain’s new Airport Expansion Programme and other exciting sectors including the latest and greatest in innovation and technology.

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January 2016

Whilst still offering trade visitors access to the unique networking opportunities the event provides, this year Airshow organisers have introduced a new platform to further boost the show’s potential - the Civil Aviation Conference. Civil Aviation Conference Taking place on day two of the show, the Conference will follow the theme of ‘Air Transport in the 21st Century’.

Experts from within the airline, airport & aerospace industries will form two panels, discussing key issues affecting the Middle Eastern business landscape. 

January 2016

31

International News

Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport makes history

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nder a water cannon salute provided by Atlanta Fire and Rescue vehicles, and in front of hundreds of guests, dignitaries and fellow passengers, Flight 1256 made history at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) .

The Delta Air Lines flight from Gulfport, Mississippi carried ATL’s 100 millionth passenger in 2015, marking the first time ever an airport served more than 100 million passengers in a single year.

“I’m happy I could be part of it,” said 35 year-old Larry Kendrick, 24 hours after he was tabbed as ATL’s 100 millionth passenger. “I’m still surprised. I’ve flown in and out of Atlanta quite often, and I enjoy it.”

“Today, we are making aviation history,” Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed told the crowd moments before the flight arrived. “As we move into 2016, it is our commitment to maintain our position as the world’s

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most travelled airport, the most efficient, and soon we will start competing to be the most sustainable.”

“What a year it has been,” ATL General Manager Miguel Southwell said. He cited both the growth of Atlanta as a destination and a strong partnership between ATL and Delta Air Lines as the main explanation for the five percent increase in traffic over the previous year. Officials projected a two percent increase at the start of 2015. “Without Delta,” he added, “we simply would not be standing here today.”

As part of the celebration, Mr. Kendrick was given a 2015 Nissan Alti-

ma from Nissan of Union City; two Delta One round-trip tickets good for any destination in the world; a $500 Thanks Again gift card; and a set of wireless headphones from InMotion Entertainment group.

Mr. Kendrick, an industrial construction worker traveling from his home in Biloxi to a job in Iowa, was thrilled. “My past two vehicles have been Nissans, I like them,” he said, adding that his Delta tickets may be used for an overseas flight. “I’ve seen a lot of the United States, so Australia is definitely in the mix.

Dubai does sound pretty good, too.

I don’t know – it’s up in the air,” he said, laughing. 

January 2016

33

International News

Rwanda to get world’s first airport for drones

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leets of drones carrying crucial goods such as medicine will soon streak the skies of Rwanda, putting the small east-central African country at the forefront of a technological revolution.

Designed to be cheap, simple and robust, the drones will have payloads of up to 100 kg (220lb), while the droneports will function as hubs to allow recharging, cargo loading and dropoff, as well as repairs.

With the project expected to break ground in 2016, a functioning drone delivery network could be in place

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January 2016

as early as 2020. The project is the brainchild of Jonathan Ledgard, head of the Afrotech project at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL), and world-renowned British architect Norman Foster.

The buildings are designed to be extremely easy to construct, with

architects Forster+Partners leveraging on their experience with airports -- they created the world’s largest airport terminal in Beijing. All the raw materials will be sourced on site, reducing transportation costs, with the droneport consisting of a ‘kit-of-parts’ that can be easily assembled by local communities.

International News

“Rwanda’s challenging geographical and social landscape makes it an ideal test-bed for the Droneport project,” said Norman Foster while presenting the initiative, which he reckons could have “a massive impact through the century and save lives immediately.

The droneport itself will be a mix between a railway station, a petrol station, a blacksmith shop and a post office.”

Each droneport will take two to three years to build, at a projected cost of about $300,000.Built to be robust, economical and simple to repair, they will be powered by electric engines and have a fixed wing design, more closely resembling commercial planes rather than quadrocopters.

Two types of drones have been designed, with a larger version capable of a 100kg payload to enter service in a second phase, around 2025.

They will fly at a projected speed of about 90 km/h over lakes, rivers and mountain ridges, and offer extremely competitive costs compared to road transportation.

For the initial applications, the team is looking at blood for transfusions and other life-giving supplies such as pharmaceuticals. But the network could then extend to perishable goods and e-commerce purchases.

Two types of drones have been designed, with a larger version capable of a 100kg payload to enter service

in a second phase, around 2025.

They will fly at a projected speed of about 90 km/h over lakes, rivers and mountain ridges, and offer extremely competitive costs compared to road transportation.

The Rwandan government has decided to create a regulatory framework for drone due to investor interest in creating the world’s first drone airport in the country at the beginning of next year, reported The New Times. In the case of Rwanda, the drone airport or simply drone port is aimed at helping transport urgent medical supplies as well as electronic parts to remote areas of the country. 

January 2016

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ATM

Pininfarina and AECOM win competition for air-traffic control tower at Istanbul New Airport

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GA has chosen an innovative design by AECOM and Pininfarina as the winner of an international design competition for the regional Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower and technical building at the Istanbul New Airport.

Unusually, the winning entry marries influences from the aviation and automotive sectors, with strong architectural design.

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ATM

The AECOM and Pininfarina collaboration was chosen from a total of six entries from international architectural teams, including Zaha Hadid, Fuksas, Moshe Safdie, Grimshaw-Nordic and RMJM. The win marks AECOM’s first collaboration with Pininfarina, the design house renowned for its car designs for Ferrari and Alfa Romeo, among others.

The collaboration combines the expertise of AECOM’s architectural and engineering teams with Pininfarina’s distinctive architectural style that epitomises speed and movement, influenced by automotive design.

Yusuf Akçayoğlu, chief executive officer of İGA, said: “One of the world’s largest aviation projects, Istanbul New Airport’s air traffic control tower will be an iconic structure, visible to all passengers travelling through the airport.

We were looking for a striking design fit for a 21st century airport while remaining sensitive to Istanbul’s unique heritage. We received excellent designs from all over the world and are delighted to announce the AECOM and Pininfarina team as the competition winner.”

The ATC will be the landmark for Istanbul New Airport, which is set to be the world’s largest new airport in terms of annual passenger capacity. The competition scope was to deliver the concept designs for the tower, showcasing contemporary sustainable architectural design that reflects the multi-cultural and historical characteristics of Istanbul city.

The AECOM and Pininfarina design evokes the aerodynamic forms used in automotive and aviation design, and includes an elliptical tower that will be visible to all passengers flying in and out of the new airport. The tower shape

is inspired by the tulip, which has been the symbol of Istanbul for many centuries and is an important cultural reference in Turkish history.

Jennifer Dixon, head of architecture, Europe, Middle East, India and Africa, AECOM, said: “In this competition, our aim was to combine the dynamism and romance of Pininfarina’s architectural style that is so influenced by automotive design with AECOM’s in-house aviation architecture capabilities.

The Istanbul ATC for the New Airport is an iconic building, destined to become a landmark for Istanbul

The result marries pure iconic beauty with true innovation.”

Paolo Pininfarina, chairman of Pininfarina, said: “The Istanbul ATC for the New Airport is an iconic building, destined to become a landmark for Istanbul.

Our aim, as with all our projects, was to develop a bespoke idea that embodied our partner’s design identity while at the same time bringing a new aesthetic perspective. By leveraging the unique combination of our 85 years’ experience in design – from cars to superyachts, and from luxury products to furniture – with our architectural knowledge gained from several projects around the world, we have been able to create a technologically advanced structure of distinctive character.”

The design competition is the latest win for AECOM at Istanbul New Airport. Earlier this year it was appointed by İGA to deliver designs for all the airside works at the airport. The new airport will have an initial capacity of 90 million passengers per year.

The AECOM and Pininfarina team has created a beautiful and highly functional piece that rekindles the excitement and glamour of modern air travel at the crossroads of Europe and Asia.”

It will be located on the European side of the city, 35 kilometres from the centre on a site adjacent to the Black Sea. Subsequent planned phases will expand the airport to include six runways and three terminal buildings. When all phases are complete, the airport will have an annual capacity of up to 200 million passengers.

Bernardo Gogna, senior vice president and director of global aviation, AECOM, said: “Our approach to this competition was to combine the expertise of a different design industry with AECOM’s in-house aviation architecture and engineering capabilities. Our goal was to bring Pininfarina’s values, which are grounded in tradition and craftsmanship, to the world of aviation.

İGA is a consortium of five leading Turkish contractors comprising Cengiz, MAPA, Limak, Kolin and Kalyon. İGA was awarded the concession to build Istanbul New Airport as the engineering, procurement and construction contractor and will also be the operator.

Recently, İGA secured a €4.5 billion loan from a group of six banks for the first phase of the project. 

January 2016

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Opinion

Getting to destinations safely Lack of standardization across countries also hurts us. One in five travelers says they are not sufficiently informed about security screening procedures, according to our 2015 Global Passenger Survey.

Tony Tyler Director General & CEO International Air Transport Association (IATA)

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fter many years of hard work and restructuring, the airline industry is on a path toward financial sustainability. This year airlines will carry 3.5 billion passengers and that figure is expected to more than double in 20 years. The task before us is how to work together to accommodate that growth, while upholding customers’ expectations.

What do customers expect? The fundamentals are safety and security. They want their travel experience to be pleasant, efficient and with choice among many options.

It is a familiar list--and a challenging one. I believe that it is also achievable.

There is no better example of this than safety, our top priority. From 2015 the two-year IOSA audit cycle is being succeeded by Enhanced IOSA with continuous compliance monitoring. And because not all air carriers qualify for IOSA owing to their business model, or type of aircraft, we developed the IATA Standard Safety Assessment (ISSA) to address this segment of the market.

After investing billions in airport security processes, it is disappointing that our customers repeatedly tell us that the security checkpoint is a universal pain point.

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We are using our expertise through programs like Smart Security, our joint initiative between IATA and Airports Council International (ACI), to work with governments to make airport security more efficient and hassle free.

We cannot accommodate a doubling of passengers through airports in the next 20 years using today’s processes and procedures without an unacceptable increase in customer inconvenience and loss of productivity at our airports. We’ve simply got to find more efficient ways to manage this challenge.

Airlines, governments and passengers share a common goal of getting to destinations safely, reliably and on-time. Aviation is a team effort. Airlines compete intensely for each passenger, but as an industry, we also work together to develop the global standards and best practices that enable connectivity around the world.

Over the next few years, we have the opportunity and ability to transform the passenger journey, providing a more comprehensive and transparent shopping experience and a more pleasant and predictable trip.  Edited excerpts from the speech at the World Passenger Symposium, Hamburg

Opinion

Reduce airspace fragmentation A

ircraft and airports are the visible part of the aviation value chain; but it is the invisible part – efficient air traffic management – that enables airlines and airports to provide the connectivity that drives economic and social development and provides access to markets.

New technology, techniques and procedures introduced

by ATM are having a major impact. Along with our industry partners, we have been collating best practice on emissions reduction by CANSO Members. ANSPs are delivering efficiency improvements and emissions reductions in all phases of flight. We are working in close cooperation with ICAO and the industry partners to transform global ATM performance.

CANSO plays an important role in developing programmes and initiatives to help ANSPs improve efficiency and reduce emissions with: development of policy and guidance on reducing emissions; enabling the sharing of best practice among ANSPs; input to the emissions reduction programmes of our industry partners; seminars and workshops; and publication of best practice guides.

One obvious area where ATM can help aircraft reduce emissions is enabling them to fly the shortest routes between airports. Traditionally, aircraft are required to fly along fixed routes that are not necessarily the shortest. CANSO and the ATM industry have been focusing on providing more flexibility for aircraft to fly more efficient routes.

Jeff Poole Director General CANSO

We encourage States to take advantage of the help on offer from both ICAO and CANSO to implement the ASBUs. States also need to work better together to reduce airspace fragmentation across the wider region and free up military airspace.

Getting these messages across to governments, decisionmakers and the general public is critical if we are to avoid onerous regulation on the environment. So, we need to continue to ensure strong communication on what has already been achieved; the great work on further improvements that is underway; and the compelling evidence that the industry is meeting its challenging environmental commitments.  Edited excerpts from the speech at the Global Sustainable Aviation Summit, Geneva

Member-States need to invest in infrastructure, specifically ATM infrastructure, as this will improve the efficiency of the entire aviation system, reduce emissions and cater for future growth. Investment in ATM infrastructure not only benefits the environment, but acts as an enabler of aviation connectivity and development, bringing economic and social benefits.

January 2016

39

Airlines

Virgin Australia first to use ‘future check-in’ tech from SITA

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ITA has unveiled innovative and flexible new passenger services in collaboration with major Australian carrier, Virgin Australia.

The check-in services were launched in November at the new domestic terminal at Perth Airport and include the world’s first single hardware common-use hybrid desks that can quickly switch from self-service bag drop mode to full-service traditional counters.

The airline’s new domestic terminal at Perth Airport has been designed to manage passengers quickly and with the level of service they want. Working together with Virgin Australia has allowed us to combine our innovative ideas and deliver this ground-breaking technology.”

SITA’s new solution enables the airline to provide varying levels of self-service based on airline and passenger preferences all from the one common-use platform.

SITA worked closely with Virgin Australia to deliver the new technology which enables the high-touch service for which Virgin Australia is renowned, while also empowering guests to manage their own experience for both check-in and baggage drop.

Ilya Gutlin, SITA President, Asia Pacific, said: “This is a very exciting time for both Virgin Australia and SITA.

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SITA is the overall technology lead delivering the solution on their global AirportConnect® Open common-use platform with tight integration from their

partners Daifuku BCS for baggage management and Vedaleon Technologies for application software.

The hybrid desks are the world’s first implementation of the latest IATA specifications which support both agent desk operations and self-service bag drop using a single set of hardware.

They set a new standard for airports not only in Australia but around the world.

This project has redefined Virgin Australia’s guest experience in Perth.

The project combines the service leadership Virgin Australia is renowned for with the unmatched airport systems know-how within SITA, which has a presence at more than 1,000 of the world’s airports. 

Airlines

TAM Airlines becomes first A350 XWB operator from the Americas

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ATAM Airlines Group, made up of LAN Airlines and TAM Airlines, has taken delivery of its first A350 XWB in Toulouse, France.

In doing so, TAM will become the first airline in the Americas to operate the all-new airliner and the fourth worldwide. TAM’s aircraft is configured in a premium two-class layout, with 348 seats, comprising of 30 Premium Business Class and 318 Economy. LATAM has ordered a total of 27 A350 XWB aircraft for the Group.

then to Madrid in April. “Adding this aircraft into our fleet not only proves our commitment to maintaining one of the youngest and most modern fleets in the world, but it also strengthens our relationship with Airbus, a true partner with whom we have grown in the last decades,” said Roberto Alvo, CEO of International & Alliances, LATAM Airlines Group.

The carrier will start operating the A350 XWB commercially in January 2016 between Sao Paulo and Manaus, Brazil, as part of continued training and crew familiarization.

“The A350 XWB brings us the best of both worlds, complementing our existing eco-efficient fleet and the best in aviation technology to ensure even greater levels of comfort for our passengers,” said Claudia Sender, CEO of TAM S.A. “The A350 XWB symbolises Airbus’ mission to innovate and to provide the market with the world’s leading aircraft,” said Fabrice Brégier, Airbus President and CEO.

This will be followed by operations from Sao Paulo to Miami in March and

“Offering unrivalled passenger flying experience and operational produc-

tivity, the A350 XWB is the perfect aircraft to support TAM’s long-haul strategy to Europe and the United States”.

Over the years, Airbus and TAM have grown together to become partners in building today’s dynamic aviation market in the region.

In 1998, TAM became an Airbus operator with the A330-200. Together, LAN & TAM have ordered nearly 380 Airbus aircraft with more than 250 Airbus aircraft in operation. Today, LATAM is the biggest Airbus customer in the Southern Hemisphere and one of the top 10 Airbus customers worldwide.

The world’s latest generation airliner, the A350 XWB, is the newest member of Airbus’ modern, comfortable and efficient wide-body aircraft family. 

January 2016

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Cargo & Logistics

WorldACD sees ‘glimmers of hope’ for 2016 WorldACD said that in spite of its weak performance in recent months, the air cargo market wasn’t all that bad this year, thanks in part to China and Hong Kong. Together they account for almost 30 percent of worldwide revenue – a very solid share of the market.

the third month in a row, but the 1 percent increase was smaller than the usual yield improvement from October to November. Additionally, November was weaker than October for the first time since 2011, which seems odd given that peak season often, begins in November.

November 2015, however, was not a good month for air cargo, no matter which way one viewed it. For the first time in two-and-a-half years, monthly volume dropped, year-over-year, by 0.9 percent. U.S. dollar yields improved for

The WorldACD report also said that September through November 2015 produced year-over-year volume growth of only 1 percent worldwide, well below the y-o-y increase of 2.6 percent in the period leading up to August 2015. 

New carrier AVIC Cargo established in China

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he Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has granted “initial approval” for the establishment of a new all-cargo carrier, AVIC Cargo Airlines, which will likely focus on serving the rapidly growing domestic Chinese e-commerce market.

According to China Aviation Daily, the airline will be a joint venture of Joy Air Holding Ltd., which will have a majority 45 percent stake, Guangzhou Donlinks Group and Beijing Fuda Asset Management.

The new airline, based at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN), will offer domestic and international freight and mail service. In its CAAC application, the carrier asked for licensing for use of both 757-200Fs and Chinese-made turbo-prop MA600Fs. 

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January 2016

Shenzhen reaches million-tonne milestone

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henzhen Bao’an International Airport broke its own record by exceeding 1 million tonnes of cargo throughput, annually, for the first time ever, ranking it in first place among domestic airports in annual cargo traffic, according to a report in Air Cargo World.

Cargo traffic at the air hub has increased 24 percent over the last five years, moving from 809,000 tonnes handled in 2010, to 910,000 tonnes in 2013, and now the 1-million-tonne mark. In 2014, Shenzhen Bao’an ranked 25th worldwide and fourth in China, in terms

of cargo volume. Express business increased from 34 to nearly 50 percent over the five years.

The airport’s bonded logistics center covers an area of 115,000 square meters and provides bonded warehousing, international logistics distribution, import and transit trade, customs and doorto-door delivery service. The airport serves 39 cargo routes, connecting to 33 destinations.

Additionally, Shenzhen Bao’an has an IATA certified dangerous goods handling staff, the report said. 

Cargo & Logistics

Khorfakkan Container Terminal exceeds 4,000 moves in 12-hour shift

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ulftainer, a privately owned, independent terminal operating and logistics company, has achieved yet another milestone, as its Khorfakkan Container Terminal (KCT) completed 4,073 container moves in a single 12-hour shift.

The full operation consisted of an 8,288 container / 13,005 TEUs (Twenty-foot equivalent unit) exchange, inclusive of 10-high deck stowage, on the call of the CMACGM Georg Forster, one of the French shipping line’s 18,000 TEU capacity vessels.

SF Airlines gets first widebody freighter

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ast-growing SF Airlines has taken delivery of its first 767-300 Boeing Converted Freighter (BCF) as it looks to capitalise on China’s rapidly growing e-commerce market, according to Air Cargo News.

The delivery represents the addition of the first wide-body aircraft in the SF Express-owned airline’s fleet, which until today consisted of 25 B757s and B737s.

It is the first of five 767BCFs the airline will receive during the next year and the eighth aircraft the company has taken delivery of in 2015.

SF Airlines vice president maintenance and engineering Liang Xi said: “With its larger capacity and higher fuel efficiency, we look forward to the 767BCF ensuring quick shipping to our customers.” 

The terminal staff completed the operation in only 36.4 hours, resulting in Gross Moves Per Hour (GMPH) of 227.7 and Berth Moves per Hour (BMPH) of 223.4, allowing the vessel to sail ahead of its pro-forma schedule with a grand total of 15,765 TEUs on board, bound for its next port of call of Yantian, China. 

Qatar Airways Cargo to add new US freighter route

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atar Airways Cargo has announced it will launch a new freighter route to Dallas/Fort Worth commencing operations on January 19, 2016, increasing its network to six freighter destinations in the Americas. A Qatar Airways Cargo Boeing 777F will fly two times a week to Dallas from Liege.

In total Qatar Airways Cargo provides service to 13 destinations in the Americas, with ad-

ditional upload provided in the belly hold of the airline’s commercial aircraft.

The new dedicated freighter service to Dallas will increase the 400 tonnes of export cargo capacity per month, currently transported as belly hold cargo on Qatar Airways’ passenger services, to 1,000 tonnes of exports a month. Import capacity into Dallas will increase to a total of 300 tonnes per month. 

January 2016

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Technology

FAA’s new technology to crack down on illegal drones

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n order to monitor unauthorized drone flights and to stop dangerous collisions between drones and aircraft, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has signed an agreement to test technology that would help it find the operators of drones flying near airports.

The new technology provides a proven way to passively detect, identify, and track drone operators by monitoring the radio signals

between drone and controller. As reports of pilots spotting drones increase — doubling between 2014 and the first eight months of 2015

alone — the FAA says finding and stopping unauthorized flights is increasingly difficult.

The FAA faces criticism for its achingly slow progress towards unified legislation for drone operators. It has acknowledged its slow progress, but has warned that it may take until 2017 to finalize its drone regulations.

Until then, drone pilots will need to err on the side of caution to avoid being spotted by this new technology and hit with hefty fines. Despite strong warnings from the FAA to keep away from airports, civilians continue to fly their drones too close. The FAA receives at least 100 cases a month of operators flying drones too close to aircraft. 

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January 2016

Technology

UK firms develop drone-freezing ray

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hree British companies have created a device to deter drones from entering sensitive areas by freezing them in mid-flight.

The Anti-UAV Defense System (AUDS) works by covertly jamming a drone’s signal, making it unresponsive. After this disruption, the operator is likely to retrieve the drone believing that it has malfunctioned. A drone flying in sensitive airspace can be detected by the AUDS radar and then sighted via a camera equipped with thermal imaging capabilities so that it can be targeted visually.

Then, a high-powered radio signal can be focused on the drone - essentially overriding the connection to whoever is operating tithe whole process takes as little as 25 seconds, according to the manufacturers, Enterprise Control Systems, which developed the product along with Blighter Surveillance Systems and Chess Dynamics.

AUDS can spot a drone from about five miles (8 kilometers) away. After zeroing in on its target, it uses video and thermal imaging software to keep the flying vehicle in its sight.

Once the drone gets close enough to the anti-drone system, it’s ‘game over’ for the drone. Though the AUDS system doesn’t promise to help locate errant drone operators, it could be used to keep drones away from restricted areas altogether.

AUDS can spot a drone from about five miles (8 kilometers) away The radio-jamming technology aboard AUDS doesn’t scramble signals from commercial or military aircraft, which use encrypted signals, so it might be safe to use near airports. 

AUDS has been tested in the UK, the USA and France, said Taylor, and government organizations in all three countries had been involved in those tests. Whoever is controlling the anti-drone system can keep the UAV hovering at a distance until the machine runs out of battery life and crashes to the ground, according to a report by the BBC.

January 2016

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