CAPA News Briefs

Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) received (01-Jun-2022) an inaugural rating of 74 out of 100 for Hong Kong International Airport's environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance from Standard & Poor's (S&P), becoming the first airport worldwide to have its ESG rating globally publicised by S&P. The rating reflects AAHK's "good capabilities to address its moderate yet growing environmental and social exposure, and focus on maintaining its capacity to navigate potential disruptions". [more - original PR]

Lufthansa Group announced (01-Jun-2022) it expects its first Boeing 787-9 (D-ABPA) to be delivered to Lufthansa in summer 2022, following certification by the US FAA. Following delivery, the aircraft will undergo cabin refurbishment at Lufthansa's maintenance centre in Frankfurt. It will initially be deployed on domestic routes for training purposes, with the first intercontinental destination scheduled to be Toronto. The group has ordered 32 787 aircraft, scheduled for delivery between 2022 and 2027. [more - original PR]

New York's Governor Kathy Hochul announced (01-Jun-2022) Delta Air Lines plans to open its new USD4 billion Terminal C at New York LaGuardia Airport on 04-Jun-2022. The project marks the completion of the airport's USD8 billion modernisation, with features including 1.3 million sqft of space, hands-free bag drop and digital ID screening technology, floor-to-ceiling windows, 80% more concessions space, an expedited curbside check in building and a consolidated security area with 11 lanes. The project benefited from a USD500 million Port Authority of New York and New Jersey investment for new roadways and supporting infrastructure. [more - original PR]

Canadian Travel and Tourism Roundtable (CTTR) urged (01-Jun-2022) Canada's Government to implement the following actions before 15-Jun-2022, to provide border relief and alleviate pressures facing travellers at Canadian airports:

• Remove vaccination mandates for Canadian Air Transport Security Authority and Canada Border Services Agency workers;
• Remove the Public Health Agency of Canada's duplicate health checks and questions through ArriveCan at government checkpoints;
• Relocate or remove onsite mandatory random testing from Canada's airports;
• Establish clear service standard benchmarks for security and customs processing of passengers travelling through Canadian airports.

Canadian Airports Council (CAC) interim president Monette Pasher stated: "Canada's four hub airports are currently processing on average 56,000 international passengers a day [and] this is forecasted to grow by 50% per day this summer. It's challenging to manage that level of traffic, with the left over legacy public health protocols still in place at our international borders... Normal travel volumes cannot co-exist with current public health protocols in place within our airport facilities". [more - original PR]

US FAA acting administrator Billy Nolen called (01-Jun-2022) upon attendees of the Sustainable Aviation Fuels Summit to collaborate to achieve the following:

• Address the gap between jet fuel prices and the cost of sustainable fuels;
• Ensure emissions benefits of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) are calculated with scientific rigour and credited transparently;
• Reduce financial risks to pave the way for greater investment into production infrastructure;
• Ensure the right regulatory and incentive policies are put in place.

Mr Nolen stated: "There's no doubt that today's volatility in oil prices and the uncertainty in oil markets reinforce our need for greater SAF production… SAF provides economic benefits to regions across the country, creating jobs across the supply chain and in underserved and rural areas. By working together, we can realize this value proposition. The federal government is taking many actions toward this goal". [more - original PR]

Southwest Airlines announced (01-Jun-2022) an investment into SAFFiRE Renewables, as part of a project backed by the US Department of Energy (DoE) to develop and produce scalable sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The project will be funded by a DoE grant matched by Southwest Airlines, allowing SAFFiRE to convert corn stover into renewable ethanol, which would then be upgraded into SAF. If phase one of the project is successful, DoE and Southwest Airlines would have the opportunity to fund a second phase investment for the design, fabrication, installation and operation of a pilot plant producing renewable ethanol. Southwest Airlines CEO Bob Jordan stated: "This is a unique opportunity to invest in what we believe could be game-changing technology that could facilitate the replacement of up to approximately five percent of our jet fuel with SAF by 2030, with the potential to significantly continue to scale beyond the decade". SAFFiRE CEO Mark Yancey stated: "If we are successful in developing and commercializing this technology, we project the technology can produce 7.5 billion gallons per year of SAF by 2040". [more - original PR]

United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) merged (01-Jun-2022) with Sukhoi and MiG. Rostec director general Sergey Chemezov said: "UAC is thus becoming not only a corporate centre for UAC Group, but also an operating company, controlling production and design bureaus, implementing aviation programmes and developing prospective equipment". UAC director general Yury Slyusar said: "The merger of UAC, Sukhoi and MiG must provide a powerful impulse for the development of the entire industry". [more - original PR - Russian]

Eurowings Discover opened (01-Jun-2022) a new short haul base at Munich Airport and plans to commence operations with its first A320 stationed at the hub on 01-Jun-2022. The carrier plans to add two A320s to its Munich fleet in Aug-2022 and increase its A320 fleet at the hub to five aircraft by the end of 2022. The carrier will expand its network from Munich over Jun-2022 and Jul-2022 to include Samos, Rhodes, Chania, Zakynthos, Bodrum, Antalya, Hurghada and Ibiza. [more - original PR - German]

UK's Transport Secretary Grant Shapps held (01-Jun-2022) a meeting with leaders from airports, airlines and ground handling companies regarding the recent "exceptional disruption seen across UK airports" due to COVID-19 affected staff shortages. Mr Shapps highlighted:

• The UK Government is taking steps to boost consumer rights, including recently consulting on using Brexit freedoms to enhance consumer protections, and committing to publish an aviation passenger charter to ensure consumers can access information about their rights in one place;
• New protections include enhancing the UK Civil Aviation Authority's powers to enforce aviation consumer protection laws;
• The government and aviation industry will form a working group ahead of the 2022 summer holidays to work through issues of shared concern.

Mr Shapps stated: "I also understand the resourcing strains on the aviation sector but it does not excuse poor planning and overbooking flights that they cannot service... Run services properly and according to schedule or provide swift, appropriate compensation. We do not want to see a repeat of this over the summer - the first post COVID-19 summer season - and will be meeting again in the coming weeks to understand the progress that is being made". [more - original PR]

Health Promotions Vanuatu, via its official Facebook account, announced (27-May-2022) Vanuatu's Ministry of Health reported further changes to requirements for international travel from 28-May-2022 to 13-Jun-2022. Inbound travellers must have a negative supervised COVID-19 rapid antigen test or negative PCR test, approval from the Ministry of Health and also be fully vaccinated against coronavirus. Travellers must undergo three days of quarantine. From 14-Jun-2022, quarantine will be removed and coronavirus testing will not be required. From 01-Jul-2022, all foreign nationals may travel to Vanuatu, with passenger services and volumes to increase. Full vaccination against coronavirus will no longer be required and travellers will no longer be required to receive pre-approval for travel or pre-register with an overseas Vanuatu mission. Vanuatu will launch a new online travel system to simplify the travel process. All foreign nationals will be required to pay for all medical expenses while in Vanuatu.

US Travel Association president and CEO Roger Dow stated (01-Jun-2022) it is "long past time" for the US Government to remove pre-departure COVID-19 testing requirements for inbound vaccinated travellers, following a White House meeting with Airlines for America (A4A). Mr Dow added: "While nearly all other US industries are operating without restrictions, the travel industry remains disproportionately harmed by this requirement, even though the science no longer supports it". Mr Dow noted the US Government does not require negative tests for entry at land border ports with Canada and Mexico and other countries with which the US directly competes for global travellers have removed pre-departure testing requirements, positioning the US at a "serious" competitive disadvantage. [more - original PR]

Nordic Aviation Capital announced (01-Jun-2022) its exit from Chapter 11 restructuring proceedings, having received confirmation of its restructuring plan from the bankruptcy court on 19-Apr-2022. As previously reported by CAPA, the plan includes the infusion of approximately USD537 million in capital to fund operations and growth opportunities and the elimination of nearly USD4.1 billion of debt. The plan also includes the appointment of a new board of directors, led by chairman Klaus Heinemann and president and CEO Norman C T Liu. [more - original PR]