Sustainability in the Aviation sector

Photo John Mcarthur / unsplash

The aviation industry is the safest mode of transportation in the world. Since its origin, the aviation sector has been constantly growing by delivering unrivalled speed and safety. The first sustained flight was accomplished in the United States; soon after, the notion of the controlled flight was shared with industrialists, and aircraft manufacture in the United States started. Military and cargo transportation were the first applications of aeroplanes. In the United States, the aviation industry began in the second decade of the twentieth century.

However, expansion was sluggish, and aircraft industries remained limited until the United States Federal Government began to meet the demands generated by World War I. Aeroplanes demonstrated their strength and dominance by performing successfully during World War II, and they were swiftly adopted by several commercial organisations. Aeroplanes size increased, as did the amount of cargo and people carried, and with the adoption of gas turbine engines in aircraft, air travel expanded beyond continents. With growth in passenger demand, the number of flights each day grew, and the quantity of pollution began to climb. Regulations were adopted by regulatory agencies operating within the law to increase sustainability by reducing pollution from aviation activities.

Types of pollution 

Noise Pollution 

Aircraft noise may affect residents who live near airports. For years, the sector has attempted to reduce noise, with remarkable success: noise levels have been reduced by half in the previous 10 years. Each new aircraft generation is anticipated to have a noise footprint that is at least 15% lower than prior generations. The largest cause of noise pollution from airports is aircraft; however, additional noises generated by airports include equipment noise produced by ground vehicles and electrical generators.

An individual aircraft's Effective Perceived Noise Level at takeoff and landing defines its loudness (EPNL). It is evaluated when the aircraft is initially placed into operation and is used to track noise improvement over time. The earlier generation Boeing 737-400, for example, would have a higher noise level than the newer generation Boeing 737 Max 8. In 2013, the International Civil Aviation Organization ICAO, the United Nations' intergovernmental aviation organisation, implemented Chapter 14, a new noise reduction standard. According to the regulation, modern aircraft models must be at least seven decibels quieter than those constructed to the previous Chapter 4 standard. This assures that future aircraft will be equipped with the most advanced noise-cancelling equipment. ICAO also believes that between 1998 and 2004, the number of people globally exposed to aeroplane noise reduced by 35%. Sustainable aviation is the goal of aviation world where UK is looking to achieve net-zero emissions, so these practices are now part of aviation courses. 

The amount of air passing through the engines, the surface area of the engine's fan blades, the engine's placement on the airframe, and even the number and size of flaps that aid in wing shape alterations have all been thoroughly investigated. Aircraft designers, manufacturers, and regulatory authorities worked together to tackle aviation noise pollution. After identifying separate sources of noise pollution, designers looked into several factors that contribute to the overall noise produced by flights. To combat noise pollution, aircraft designers, manufacturers, and regulatory agencies came together. Designers examined several aspects that contribute to the overall noise produced by aeroplanes after finding distinct causes of noise pollution. The majority of the noise comes from aircraft engines, but general aerodynamics was also a significant concern. Aircraft engines produce most of the noise while overall aerodynamics was also a major concern. To boost aerodynamic efficiency, designers and manufacturers made several improvements to the overall design. Hot exhaust gases and the movement of turbines and compressor blades on a rotating shaft can cause noise and vibrations in jet engines. Modern engines are extremely fuel-efficient and quiet, and the entire design has improved significantly. High bypass engines decrease noise pollution bypassing the majority of the cold air via the bypass and just a tiny part into the core for combustion. Because the violent mixing of hot and cold gases causes a significant percentage of noise pollution, this approach aids in decreasing the overall sound of the gas turbine engine.

Regulating where planes fly during takeoff and landing dramatically minimises noise pollution. The location and utilization of runways is critical; for example, to limit noise pollution, planes flying at night may fly over oceans or rivers. Air traffic control plots out flight patterns that avoid the most densely populated regions. Jetliners can now precisely follow predefined tracks thanks to recent breakthroughs in navigation performance. With the support of air navigation service providers and airport managers, airlines and pilots can use noise reduction techniques such as reduced power take-off, repositioned landing thresholds, and continual descending landings.

Air Pollution 

SkyCell and Japan Airlines partner to support the growing Japanese pharmaceutical shipment market

 SkyCell, the manufacturer of innovative hybrid pharmaceutical containers, has partnered with Japan Airlines Cargo (JAL Cargo), to meet the country's growing needs for vaccine and pharmaceutical transportation in a safe, secure, and sustainable way.

SkyCell is committed to working with JAL Cargo to offer a tailor-made solution that meets the airline's growing business needs across vaccine and pharmaceutical shipments. This partnership will also see SkyCell further strengthen its presence in Japan and continue to support the temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical market with its high-quality hybrid containers that have been industry accredited to have near-zero spoilage rates.

SkyCell’s GDP compliant hybrid containers - which maintain internal temperature stability across the pharmaceutical industry recognised temperature ranges, without the need for external intervention - are able to cover customers’ various needs. By using lightweight, environmentally friendly material, the technology enables efficiency and reusability. The Swiss-engineered hybrid features include shock-absorbent feet to mitigate any breakage during transport and has a double-door system to protect the packing against humidity. 

The partnership between SkyCell and JAL is a first step into a joint vision to determinedly, faithfully, and creatively increase the shipment quality of highly valuable and sensitive products.

Chiara Venuti, Business Development Director and Airline Partners, SkyCell, comments: “I see this partnership with JAL as a firm commitment from SkyCell to support the Japanese pharmaceutical market. We play a key role together in delivering life-saving medicine in the most safe, secure, and sustainable way to the patients in need. A great journey starts with small steps, and we look forward to working together with a common mission focused on ensuring patients get the life-saving medicines they need in a sustainable and secure way.”   

Hidehiko Umehara, Vice President, Business Promotion Department, JAL Cargo comments: “On the signing of a Master Lease Agreement, JAL and SkyCell will work in close cooperation and coordination to provide our customers with peace of mind when using SkyCell containers, which have a temperature excursion rate of less than 0.1% and are capable of maintaining the required temperature range at the highest levels, and do not need electric power.”

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We Will Remember Them

 Royal British Legion | Armed Forces Charity

Iberia Will Fly to Dallas, San Francisco, and Washington DC in the spring

Following the recent decision by the United States government to reopen its borders to tourists from the European Union in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the Spanish airline, Iberia has made changes to its forthcoming spring and summer 2022 schedule.

As in all markets where Covid-10 restrictions are being lifted, Iberia is resuming its flights and even adding destinations, such as Dallas, San Francisco, and Washington DC, scheduled for the summer season that begins in April and will be available for booking in the near future.

Dallas, an All-new Destination for Iberia

Starting in April, Iberia will operate four weekly return flights from Madrid to this north Texas city, which is the hub of American Airlines, with which Iberia has a Joint Business Agreement (JBA), facilitating one-ticket connections to a large number of US cities. British Airways and Finnair are also partners in the JBA, which covers routes between Europe and the North Atlantic.

Direct to Washington DC

Iberia’s plans to fly from Madrid to the US capital were interrupted by the outbreak of the pandemic, but now they are back on track for four weekly return flights starting in April. The city boasts not only the seats of the three branches of government –the White House, the Capitol building hosting the two houses of congress, and the Supreme Court– but also major museums like the Smithsonian Institution, the world’s largest.

Return to San Francisco 

Summer flights to the West Coast city will be resumed in 2022, with three return flights per week from Madrid starting in April. 

Major Presence in the United States

These destinations will bring to a total of nine the number of cities served directly by Iberia in the United States, the Spanish airline’s most important market

In the current winter season that began on 31 October, Iberia has scheduled 70 flights per week between Spain and the US, reaching the same cities it served before the pandemic began.

Specifically, the airline is operating 10 weekly return flights to both New York and Miami, five flights a week to Chicago, and three weekly flights to Boston and Los Angeles. It is also flying four times a week to San Juan in Puerto Rico, a destination included in the North Atlantic JBA with American Airlines, British Airways y Finnair.

The JBA linking Iberia, American Airlines, British Airways, and Finnair

The four airlines have joined forces to offer their customers a global network of routes linking more than 400 cities in 100 countries of Europe and North America, which will now be enriched with access to Spanish destinations by travellers from the additional US cities served by Iberia.

Customers of the four airlines will enjoy numerous advantages under the terms of the JBA, in addition to a much wider range of destinations, flying times and better connections.

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Volocopter conducts crewed public air taxi test flight in South Korea

German urban air mobility (UAM) pioneer, Volocopter, has completed the first test flight with its 2X aircraft in Seoul, South Korea. It was the first-ever crewed public test flight of a fully electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) air taxi in South Korea. The Republic's Minister for Land, Infrastructure, and Transport (MOLIT) Noh Hyeong Ouk witnessed the historical test flight, marking a milestone in Volocopter's plan of introducing air taxis globally.

The 5-minute test flight took place at Gimpo International Airport, covered approximately 3 kilometres, reached a maximum altitude of 50 meters and maximum speeds of 45 km/h.

Florian Reuter, CEO of Volocopter said, "With MOLIT's comprehensive K-UAM roadmap, South Korea is well-positioned to achieve the goal of commercializing UAM by 2025. We are extremely honoured to conduct the nation's first crewed public eVTOL test flight today and prove yet again that the future of air taxis is here and now with Volocopter's aircraft. As the pioneers of the UAM industry, we look forward to working closely with friends and partners from both the government agencies and private sectors to make UAM a reality in South Korea."

German Ambassador to South Korea Michael Reiffenstuel said, "South Korea and Germany have enjoyed a close relationship for more than a century. We are connected by a common experience of a divided nation and strong ties in trade, education, and technology. We strongly welcome deepened cooperation in new sectors such as digitalization, e-commerce, and urban air mobility."

Seoul is the second city in Asia that Volocopter has conducted a test flight following the first successful public flight trial over Singapore's Marina Bay area in 2019.

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FAI has obtained supplementary type certification (STC) for the EpiShuttle on the aircraft type CL-600

FAI has obtained supplementary type certification (STC) for the EpiShuttle on the aircraft type CL-600. Photo: FAI Air Ambulance.

FAI has obtained supplementary type certification (STC) for the EpiShuttle on the aircraft type CL-600 after undergoing comprehensive tests on flammability, rapid decompression, and patient evacuation. The test was passed without any complaints or remarks.

Since FAI has installed the EpiShuttle in the Bombardier Challenger 604 on a Spectrum Aeromed MedBase with a fixed adaption to a Spectrum Aeromed Cargo Stretcher, they no longer considered the EpiShuttle to be “loose equipment” compared to other mobile medical equipment.

Due to this FAI wanted to obtain an STC for the CL-600-2B16 aircraft that included the EpiShuttle.

- We are glad to see that FAI has obtained STC for the CL-600-2B16 aircraft, an excellent aircraft for the transfer of infected patients with the EpiShuttle. We appreciate all time and resources the brilliant team at FAI Air Ambulance has put into the certification process. This shows that the EpiShuttle meets the requirements for an STC, says Ellen Cathrine Andersen, CEO in EpiGuard.

Passed comprehensive testing

FAI in coordination with EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency) and a development company defined the requirements for the STC and necessary test procedures were developed.

Want to feel like you just stepped into a holiday movie

A quaint downtown area filled with cheery small-town residents. Twinkling lights, festive trees and ornamented garland decorate the boutique storefronts. Made-for-TV movies bring whimsy to the holiday season, and no doubt leave viewers yearning to experience the charm of the impossibly cute towns that serve as the backdrop for romance. If you’re looking to experience some homespun hospitality of your own this winter, check out these endearing destinations.

New Britain, Connecticut

There’s nothing more Americana than a small New England town, and New Britain fits the bill when it comes to a picture-perfect main street that’s brimming with classic old-world

architecture and local-run businesses. It’s the perfect setting to share a kiss under the mistletoe with a local bookstore owner, or the passionate proprietor of a tiny toy shop, as you join forces to prevent a takeover of their business by a large corporation!

Feel like a local as you take part in holiday celebrations in the town’s Central Park, which is home to an annual tree-lighting ceremony and visits from Santa. Book your stay DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Bristol, Connecticut, located in an equally charismatic city that bills itself as being “all heart,” and enjoy even more small-town vibes in a city-sized package.

Breckenridge, Colorado

Breckenridge is a stunning ski town that offers the best of everything the Rocky Mountains has to offer: A main street erected in the late 1800s, majestic snow-capped mountains, a bustling art district, craft breweries and more. While out for a stroll, you may bump into an attractive stranger you seemingly have nothing in common with; but if a snowstorm forces you to hunker down in a chalet together, you may learn you’re not so different after all!

Every winter the historic downtown turns into a sparkling snow-globe scene with more than 250,000 lights, and the town plays host to numerous special events, including a jolly Race of the Santas and the Bernese Mountain Dog Holiday Processional. Stay at the Valdoro Mountain Lodge, a traditional ski lodge where you can stay toasty in the spa and outdoor hot tub.

Dahlonega, Georgia

For those craving the allure of an adorably tiny town, but hoping for milder temperatures, consider a visit to the North Georgia city of Dahlonega. Situated amongst rolling hills and grapevines, you can alternate between exploring the quaint, Southern-style downtown area and visits to one of the many nearby wineries. Here you might spill your drink on a fellow patron, leading to a starry-eyed meet cute when you offer to pay the dry-cleaning bill.

Dahlonega gets into the holiday spirit with glimmering lights, carriage rides, a festival of trees and more. Nearby, the picturesque town of Helen offers holiday celebrations and traditions from Germany. Explore their European style Christkindlmarkt, visit the Festival of Trees at Unicoi State Park, and embark on a Winterfest Arts Tour. The Alpine-inspired Hampton Inn by Hilton Helen is perfectly positioned along the Chattahoochee River in Helen’s Bavarian Village.

Aviation industry brings net-zero 2050 commitment to COP26

 New technology aircraft and jet fuel made from waste: the global air transport industry has outlined how to meet its new long-term climate goal during Transport Day events at the UN COP26 in Glasgow. This confirms the commitment of the world's airlines, airports, air traffic management and the makers of aircraft and engines to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, in support of the Paris Agreement. Aviation is one of the only sectors to have made such a global commitment.

Analysis detailed in the Waypoint 2050 report outlines credible paths for the air transport sector to reach net-zero carbon. The industry says a mix of new technology including potentially shifting to electricity and hydrogen for some shorter services; improvements in operations and infrastructure; and a transition to sustainable aviation fuel by mid-century would provide a majority of the carbon reductions. Remaining emissions could be captured using carbon removals measures.

Speaking at a COP26 event with the UK Government today, Haldane Dodd, Acting Executive Director of the Air Transport Action Group said: "Aviation has increased its ambition in line with the need for all sectors of the economy to pursue rigorous climate action. Despite having endured the greatest crisis in aviation history, this net-zero 2050 goal shows that our sector has placed climate action as one of its highest priorities."

AerCap Holdings publishes its third quarter 2021 results.

Aircraft leasing giant, AerCap has published its latest financial results for the third quarter of 2021 ended September 30, 2021.  Aengus Kelly, Chief Executive Officer of AerCap, said, "I am pleased to report a strong quarter of earnings, with net income of $434 million, or $3.35 per share. This quarter was an important inflection point for the company. Our business continues to recover from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, with leasing demand and cash collections remaining strong. The GECAS transaction adds a portfolio of well-priced assets and a deeply experienced team of people that will further enhance AerCap's position as the lessor of choice for airlines around the world."

Highlights:

Completed the GECAS acquisition on November 1, 2021, making AerCap the worldwide industry leader across all areas of aviation leasing: aircraft, engines and helicopters.

Completed the offering of $21 billion of senior unsecured notes in October 2021 and a $2 billion secured institutional term loan in November 2021 to finance the GECAS acquisition with an average coupon of approximately 2.6% and an average tenor of 7.1 years.

Adjusted debt/equity ratio of 2.3 to 1 at September 30, 2021, which was a record low for the company. Pro forma for the GECAS acquisition, our adjusted debt/equity ratio was 2.8 to 1 as of September 30, 2021.

Continued to see significant improvements in cash collections, trade receivables and deferral requests.

Special items in the third quarter of 2021 included $442 million ($387 million after-tax) of other income related to proceeds from unsecured claims and $101 million ($88 million after-tax) of expenses related to the GECAS transaction.

Signed lease agreements for 42 aircraft in the third quarter of 2021.

100% of new aircraft order book placed through 2022.

Air Canada and Carbon Engineering agree to search for commercial opportunities for sustainable aviation fuel.

Air Canada and Carbon Engineering Ltd. have signed an agreement to identify potential opportunities in how CE's proprietary Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology, which captures carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere, can advance aviation decarbonization. The two Canadian companies plan to explore potential cooperation activities in sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), permanent carbon dioxide removal and innovation, including opportunities for Air Canada to purchase SAF utilizing CE's technologies.

E's DAC technology captures CO2 directly out of the atmosphere and can be used to support decarbonization in two significant and complementary ways:

When combined with secure geologic storage, it can permanently remove vast amounts of CO2 from the atmosphere, providing a tool to eliminate any CO2 emission, from any location and at any moment in time.

Additionally, through integration with CE's AIR TO FUELS™ technology, DAC can be used to produce ultra-low carbon transportation fuels, such as SAF, by combining atmospheric CO2 with clean hydrogen.

"At Air Canada, we are very focused on seeking innovative, long term, sustainable emission reduction solutions as we work towards achieving our absolute midterm GHG net reduction targets by 2030 and our net zero GHG emissions goal by 2050. Our relationship with Carbon Engineering spanning three years has enabled us to learn about their emerging technology advances, SAF production and ecosystem building efforts. We are pleased to officially become the first Canadian airline to work with CE to advance new, transformational technologies towards the commercial viability of SAFs and carbon removal, two significant components to building a long-term, sustainable, global aviation industry," said Amos Kazzaz, Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer at Air Canada.

Air Caraïbes and French Bee become the first Green Pilot certified airlines!

Air Caraïbes and French Bee announced this week, during the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow, that they became the first airlines in the world to be fully Green Pilot certified. This new label recognizes airlines that have developed a robust carbon-reducing program in their operations and have actively engaged all their employees in their green policy.

The Green Pilot certification has been designed to meet the growing demand from airlines leaders to assess, support, and improve their fuel efficiency program. This demanding certification evaluates the quality of the green policy implemented in an airline's operations and employees' commitment to this strategy.

With a thorough and transparent evaluation on training, application of fuel-saving best practices, communication, CSR, and implication in collaborative projects with the airline's ecosystem, the Green Pilot certification assesses that airlines meet the highest standards of environmental best practices, public transparency, and employee engagement.

As part of the program, once the airline is certified, educational materials are distributed to employees to improve their awareness of fuel best practices, increase the green culture and further reduce CO2 emissions.

easyJet has joined Race to Zero, a global UN-backed campaign to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 at the latest.

easyJet joins Race to Zero by committing to set an interim carbon emissions reduction target for 2035 and to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050

The airline will submit its interim science-based target to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) for validation and present its net-zero roadmap in the coming months

easyJet has consistently taken action on its carbon emissions through efficient operations today and the ultimate ambition to achieve net-zero emissions flying

easyJet has joined Race to Zero, a global UN-backed campaign to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 at the latest.  

In joining Race to Zero, the airline is committing to set an interim science-based target for 2035 as well as to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, aligning with the criteria and recommendations of the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi). easyJet plans to present its net-zero roadmap in the coming months.

Johan Lundgren, CEO of easyJet, said:  “Joining Race to Zero is a major milestone in easyJet’s net-zero journey and I’m very proud to be able to make this announcement today.

“Climate change is an issue which we all have to tackle – including us at easyJet. We have a responsibility to minimise the impact of our flights and we are working very hard to make this happen; from efficient flying and fleet renewal to being the only major European carrier that is offsetting the carbon emissions from the fuel used for all its flights on behalf of all its customers.

“Our ambition is to ultimately achieve net-zero emissions flying in the UK and across Europe and we are proactively working alongside industry leaders, such as Airbus and Wright Electric, to help support and champion zero-emission technologies for passenger planes of the future.”

Aviation Minister, Robert Courts said:  “It’s great to see easyJet joining Race to Zero on COP26’s Transport Day.  COP26 represents an opportunity to build momentum in reducing aviation emissions, particularly ahead of the next ICAO Assembly in 2022.  easyJet are stepping up to the challenge – putting in place a net-zero roadmap which will help secure a sustainable future for the sector and create green jobs in the process.”  

Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) Collaborating with ZeroAvia to Develop Hydrogen Powertrain for Dornier 228 Zero-Emission Aircraft

 

HAL & ZeroAvia will develop a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) to incorporate a 600KW hydrogen-electric powertrain system into a Dornier 228 aircraft.

HAL intends to offer retrofits to existing Dornier & Hindustan-228 Aircraft and line fit new manufactured Dornier & Hindustan-228 Aircraft.

The aircraft will use the ZeroAvia ZA600, the company's first commercial type powertrain platform, capable of producing up to 600 kW without emissions.

ZeroAvia, the leading innovator in zero-emission aviation, has announced a development collaboration with the Indian state-owned aerospace & defence company Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) for a hydrogen-electric powertrain capable of flying the 19 seats Dornier 228 aircraft up to 500 NM.

HAL intends to work with ZeroAvia to develop a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) to allow retrofit of existing airframes for both Indian military and worldwide operators. HAL also intends to continue to build new aircraft with additional FAA approval, designated Hindustan-228, creating the opportunity to incorporate ZeroAvia's ZA600 zero-emission engines. Additionally, HAL and ZeroAvia engineers will integrate ZeroAvia's ZA600 hydrogen-electric powertrain into the Dornier 228 airframe. ZeroAvia will work closely with HAL and aircraft regulators during this project to ensure that aircraft meets both safety and operational requirements.

Approximately 270 Dornier 228 aircraft have been manufactured globally, with 242 currently in service. The production line of Do-228 aircraft is operational at HAL, India (Transport Aircraft Division, Kanpur, UP, India). 

"HAL is committed to contributing to the protection and better development of the environment. This MoU with ZeroAvia has the potential to pave the way for zero emission regional connectivity.  We are looking forward to steering and supporting sustainable and environmentally friendly aviation in India and the world", says R Madhavan, CMD, HAL.

Airbus and its partners demonstrate how sharing the skies can save airlines fuel and reduce CO2 emissions

Airbus has performed the first long-haul demonstration of formation flight in general air traffic (GAT) regulated transatlantic airspace with two A350 aircraft flying at three kilometers apart from Toulouse, France to Montreal, Canada.  The aircraft were greeted at Montreal-Trudeau International Airport. Over 6 tons of CO2 emissions were saved on the trip, confirming the potential for more than a 5% fuel saving on long-haul flights. 

The “final demonstration” test flight took place on 9 November 2021 involving two A350 test aircraft, MSN1 and MSN59, the former as the leader aircraft and the latter as the follower. This was made possible with flight control systems developed by Airbus which position the follower aircraft safely in the wake updraft of the leader aircraft allowing it to reduce engine thrust and reduce fuel consumption. A similar principle can be observed with large migrating birds such as geese, which fly together in a distinct V-shaped formation.

Sabine Klauke, Chief Technical Officer at Airbus declared: “This demonstration flight is a concrete example of our commitment to making our decarbonisation roadmap a reality. It also speaks to how collaboration across the industry will be key to making this happen. We have received a strong level of support for this project from our airline and air traffic partners, plus regulators. The opportunity to get this deployed for passenger aircraft around the middle of this decade is very promising. Imagine the potential if fello’fly was deployed across the industry!” 

Pilots from Airbus partner airlines SAS Scandinavian Airlines and Frenchbee witnessed the transatlantic flight onboard as observers. The flight was made possible by Airbus and its air traffic management partners and navigation service providers (DSNA, NATS, NAV CANADA, Eurocontrol and IAA), with the support of the DGAC, who together proved that wake energy retrieval flight technology leveraged in a fello’fly flight can be achieved  without compromising safety. The demonstration also shows how fello’fly operations could significantly boost environmental performance of commercial aircraft and contribute to the aviation industry’s decarbonisation targets in the immediate term.

airBaltic carries 240 300 passengers in October

airBaltic carries 240 300 passengers in October

During October 2021, Latvian airline airBaltic has carried 240 300 passengers – 272% more than during the same period last year. In October 2021, airBaltic performed 3 140 flights.

Martin Gauss, Chief Executive Officer of airBaltic: “Although in aviation autumn months usually mean smaller traffic figures, it is still different this year. For the first time ever, we carried more passengers in October than September. During the upcoming months, we will continue to offer a wide selection of sunny leisure destinations as well as connections to the largest European business hubs.”

During October 2021, the 15-minute flight punctuality indicator for airBaltic reached a level of 87.9%. This means that more than 87 out of every 100 airBaltic flights departed at the planned time or with a delay of no more than 15 minutes.

	October, 2021	October, 2020	Change
Number of passengers	240300	64600	+272%
Number of flights	3140	1530	+104%
15-minute flight punctuality indicator	87.9%	97.7%	-9.8%-points

Currently airBaltic offers more than 70 direct destinations from Riga. In September, airBaltic launched direct flights from Riga to sunny Tenerife (Spain) and Dubai (United Arab Emirates).

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Alaska Airlines promotes Diana Birkett Rakow to senior vice president of public affairs and sustainability

Alaska Airlines has promoted Diana Birkett Rakow to senior vice president of public affairs and sustainability, the carrier has confirmed. "Diana is a strong and purpose-driven leader who recognizes the urgency of this work, and that's why she is the right person to lead our efforts to make Alaska Airlines and the aviation industry more sustainable for the future," said Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci. "We're proud of all we've accomplished on this journey so far, and we're excited about where we're headed in the years ahead."

Birkett Rakow joined Alaska in 2017 and has led the establishment and pursuit of the airline's climate strategy and strengthened Alaska's Environmental Social Governance (ESG) program as a whole. Her previous title was vice president of external relations. In April 2021, the airline announced 2025 ESG goals across the most important areas of impact for the company, including near-term goals to be the most fuel-efficient U.S. airline by 2025. The company also set a five-part path to net zero carbon emissions by 2040, joined the Climate Pledge, and established Alaska Star Ventures to identify and enable technology that can accelerate our path to net zero. That strategy leverages operational best practices and next-generation disruptive technology to transform and reduce the long-term climate impact of aviation.

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First Airbus helicopter flight with 100% sustainable aviation fuel

An Airbus H225 has performed the first-ever helicopter flight with 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) powering one of the Safran Makila 2 engines. The flight, which took place at the company’s headquarters in Marignane, marks the start of a flight campaign aiming to assess the impact of unblended SAF on the helicopter systems in view of certifying the use of SAF blends that exceed today’s 50% limit.

“While all Airbus helicopters are certified to fly with up to a 50% blend of SAF mixed with kerosene, it is our Company’s ambition to have its helicopters certified to fly with 100% SAF within the decade. Today’s flight is an important first step towards this goal”, said Stefan Thome, Executive Vice President, Engineering and Chief Technical Officer, Airbus Helicopters.

The flight campaign, which follows earlier unblended SAF bench tests performed by Safran Helicopter Engines at its Bordes plant, will provide further understanding of the technical challenges associated with the use of 100% SAF. The H225 test helicopter flew with an unblended SAF derived from used cooking oil, provided by TotalEnergies, which offers a net 90% CO2 reduction compared to regular jet fuel.

“SAF is an important pillar of Airbus Helicopters’ decarbonisation strategy because it provides immediate CO2 reduction with no negative impact on the performance of the helicopter,” Thome added. “I thank our partners Safran Helicopter Engines and TotalEnergies for their important collaboration in making today’s flight a reality. Further cooperation among all industry stakeholders is essential to overcome the challenges associated with implementing SAF widely and to make real progress in reducing the aviation industry’s CO2 emissions”.

In order to drive the deployment of biofuels, Airbus Helicopters has launched a SAF User Group dedicated to the rotary-wing community. The company has also started using SAF for training and test flights at its French and German sites.

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Catering to diverse Dietary needs, Universal Tourism from Japan.....

Shojin Ryori served at a Buddhist temple on Mount Koya. Shojin Ryori is a Buddhist vegetarian meal introduced to Japan as the influence of Zen Buddhism was spreading throughout the country. ©JNTO (Photo: Business Wire)

Prior to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of overseas visitors to Japan set a new annual record of 31.9 million in 2019, the eighth straight year of growth.

To help revive this positive trend as global travel resumes, JNTO is promoting the concept of “Universal Tourism”, part of a policy encouraging all tourists—regardless of race, nationality, ethnicity, religion, gender, age, or impairment—to visit Japan and enjoy a secure and comfortable stay.

We would accordingly like to highlight how Japan’s hospitality sector is planning to welcome overseas visitors with diverse dietary requirements, including vegetarians and vegans, and those with food allergies.

A survey by the Japan Tourism Agency in 2019 showed that eating Japanese food was the activity most overseas visitors looked forward to when visiting the country for the first time, with almost 70% choosing it (with multiple answers permitted).　The latest Michelin Guide shows that Tokyo has the highest number of Michelin-starred restaurants in the world – a true culinary paradise.

To help tourists enjoy safe and enjoyable culinary experiences, JNTO is providing information on these for international visitors and tour operators, including restaurant search facilities. This includes A Vegetarian and Vegan Guide to Japan, as well as brochures featuring local vegetarian restaurants. Vegetarian-specialty websites such as Happy Cow and Vegewel introduce local eating spots; other sites such as Google Maps and TripAdvisor as well as Facebook groups provide useful tips for those conducting pre-trip searches.

ASL Aviation Holdings Signs Deal with ZeroAvia for Zero Emission Freight Operations

 

ZeroAvia will scale up its hydrogen-electric propulsion technology, already flight tested in six-seat PAX airframe and currently in advanced R&D for a certifiable 19-seat configuration

ZeroAvia, the leading innovator in hydrogen-electric zero emission powertrains, today announced that it has signed an agreement to partner with ASL Aviation Holdings in developing hydrogen-electric engine conversions for ATR72 aircraft. The project will ultimately include an order with ZeroAvia for converting up to 10 of ASL's owned ATR72 freighter aircraft to hydrogen-electric propulsion, resulting in zero emission cargo operations.

Under the deal, ASL Airlines Ireland will provide a retired ATR72F aircraft for the program development and subsequent use as a demonstrator. ASL will then convert a number of owned aircraft on its freight operations, resulting in the launch of zero-emission hydrogen-electric powered operations for the carrier from 2026 onwards.

ASL Aviation Holdings and ZeroAvia are members of the ASL CargoVision Forum, an initiative to drive innovation and sustainability in the air cargo industry. Working together in this forum, ZeroAvia and ASL aim to use ZeroAvia's new technology to  reduce emissions progressively in the regional sector where connectivity is a critical issue.

Wright Electric Announces Details of Powertrain Development for the Wright Spirit Aircraft

Wright has taken another key step in the development of the world’s first zero-emissions regional jet. On the heels of the Wright Spirit launch announcement, the company has announced the launch of the Joint Technical Assessment Phase (JTAP). The JTAP will build on the work Wright has performed on its megawatt-class propulsion system and with partners.

“The JTAP is an important phase in an aircraft development program,” says Jeff Engler, CEO of Wright Electric. “The role of the JTAP is to define a firm system architecture and operations plan for the megawatt-class powertrain.”

Key deliverables of the JTAP include:

Determining the ultimate architecture, aircraft and technology path for the development aircraft and market entry.

Development & test facilities and location.

Evaluation of the system architecture including selection of energy storage and generation solutions for the power system.

Technical Readiness Level (TRL) of critical path components and working with Wright's Airline Advisory Board (AAB) to determine the best fit for their market requirements.

The JTAP team includes some of the most innovative names in zero-emissions technology including Honeywell and EaglePicher. “Wright is proud of the advances we have made with our megawatt-class system and excited to build on this strategic collaboration,” says Jeff.

Innovation Partners:

airBaltic to showcase Airbus A220 at Dubai Airshow

The Latvian Government-funded airline airBaltic has confirmed it will be taking part in the Dubai Airshow between 14th and 18th November this year. Together with aircraft manufacturer Airbus, the airline will show off its delightful and popular  Airbus A220-300 jet.

Dubai Airshow is one of the largest and most successful air shows in the world, connecting aerospace professionals across all areas of the industry to facilitate successful global trade. It will be the first global airshow since 2019 and the largest aerospace event to take place in 2021.

airBaltic introduced the Airbus A220-300 aircraft into its fleet almost five years ago, back then it was known as the Bombardier CS300 and since then the jets have carried over 6,500,000 passengers. Thus far, most passengers have been carried to such destinations as Amsterdam, Paris, London, and Moscow with the Airbus A220-300’s completing more than 78,246 flights and flown over 175 312 block hours.

According to the airline, the Airbus A220-300 has performed beyond the company’s expectations, delivering better overall performance, fuel efficiency and convenience for both passengers and the staff. This aircraft offers an excellent flying experience with such benefits for passengers as wider seats, larger windows, more hand luggage space in the cabin, improved lavatories and much more.