The incident occurred on June 8, 2024, when an IndiGo flight landed on the runway while an Air India flight was taking off.

A video clip of the incident, which has been shared across social media platforms, including X (formerly Twitter), shows the Air India plane, which was flying from Mumbai Airport to Thiruvananthapuram International Airport (TRV) on flight AI657, taking off just as the IndiGo aircraft, which flew in in from Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Airport (IDR), flight 6E5053, touched down. 

Both planes were A320neos.

According to flight tracking site Flightradar24, the two planes were 509 meters away from each other laterally at their closest point, and were 511 meters apart when the Air India aircraft started to lift off. The IndiGo jet touched down three seconds after the lift off.

An IndiGo spokesperson told the Times of India that the IndiGo flight from Indore was given a landing clearance by the air traffic control tower. 

鈥淭he pilot in command continued the approach and landing and followed (air traffic control) instructions,” the spokesperson was quoted to have said.

Meanwhile, Air India said its plane was “cleared by air traffic control to enter the runway and subsequently cleared for take-off”.

The Deccan Herald said the air traffic controller involved in the incident was “derostered” by India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation and an investigation has been launched.

Safety probe launched after Jetstar Airbus A320 veers off runway due to fault听

• Aviation Safety

byIan Molyneaux

2024-05-31

The reformed policies will focus on air traffic control communication and aircraft operation.

Communication changes

The first amendment is how orders should be communicated and sent out from the control tower. 

Based on investigations and the transcript of communication that took place during the incident, the coast guard captain had likely mistook the term 鈥淣umber one鈥� (No.1) to mean a green light to enter the runway. 鈥淣umber one鈥� was actually the term for the control tower to communicate the order of departure for planes in standby.

Because of this miscommunication, the term 鈥淣umber one鈥� will no longer be used. The control tower will now simply give planes a takeoff clearance to simplify orders. 

A new role

The government also introduced a new role to enhance its airport safety policies. 

A dedicated person whose sole task is to monitor the radar that tracks activity on the runway will be employed. This staff member will immediately notify colleagues when a plane that has not had clearance yet is detected on the runway. 

Japan精东影业 transport ministry plans to introduce this role at other major airports with radar capabilities such as Narita International Airport (NRT)  and Kansai International Airport (KIX).

Additionally, pilots are now also required to relearn command phrases used by the control tower. Runways of major airports in the country will also be repainted for better visibility.听

Surviving a fiery collision: How JAL 516 evacuated all 379 onboard safely

• Aircraft
• Airlines
• Aviation Safety

byJean Carmela Lim

2024-01-03

IATA airport codes are commonly used by airlines and travel agents, while the ICAO system is听primarily used by air traffic control (ATC).听听

In this article, we will discuss airport codes in more detail, including their history, types and common usage. 

History of airport codes

The history of airport codes can be traced back to the 1930s when airlines began using two-letter codes to identify airports. However, this system proved to be insufficient as more airports were being built around the world and airports began to share similar two-letter codes.

It was around that time that ICAO was established as a United Nations agency in 1944 to support standardizing and regulating international air travel ever since.

A year later, IATA was founded in 1945 as a trade association for the world’s airlines. Today it plays a key role in the airline industry, developing industry policies and standards, providing training and consulting services, and managing the airline industry’s settlement systems. 

In the late 1940s, IATA introduced a听three-letter airport identification听system allowing for a greater number of permutations, and this is still in use today.听Similarly, following its creation, ICAO established Flight Information Regions, along with its coding system, to manage air traffic and simplify airport identification.

While IATA codes are primarily used for commercial purposes, such as ticketing and baggage handling, ICAO codes are used for operational and safety purposes, such as ATC and flight planning.

Naming conventions of airport codes

The ICAO精东影业 four-letter codes are assigned based on a standardized numbering system that provides information about the location and type of facility. The first letter of the code indicates the region of the world in which the facility is located, as follows: 

A: Africa 

B: Asia听

C: Europe 

D: Middle East 

E: North America 

F: South America 

G: Oceania 

The second letter provides more specific information about the location within the region, such as the country or region, while the third and fourth letters are assigned sequentially to identify individual airports or other aviation facilities within the same location. 

For example, the ICAO code for Heathrow Airport in London, England is EGLL. The 鈥楨鈥� in the first position indicates that the airport is located within Europe, while the 鈥楪鈥� in the second position identifies the specific country (in this case, the United Kingdom). The 鈥楲L鈥� in the third and fourth positions are assigned sequentially to identify Heathrow as a unique airport within the United Kingdom.听

In comparison, IATA codes are rather random. While some use three letters of the city where they are located (Las Vegas-Harry Reid听International Airport is LAS, Hong Kong International Airport is HKG), others follow national naming conventions or refer to the name of the airport itself (Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport is CDG, New York-John F. Kennedy International Airport is JFK).

The code for Los Angeles International Airport, for example, was initially “LA.” However, as the use of three-letter codes became the norm, a new identifier was needed. To keep some consistency with the previous code, an “X” was added to the end, creating the now-familiar LAX code.

Europe airport codes

Europe has a wide range of IATA airport codes, with many popular cities having multiple airports. For example, London’s five major airports are:  

• Heathrow (LHR) 
• Gatwick (LGW) 
• Luton (LTN)  
• London City (LCY)  
• Stansted (STN) 

Codes for other popular European airports include: 

• CDG (Paris Charles de Gaulle) 
• FRA (Frankfurt Airport)听

• FCO (Rome Fiumicino) 
• AMS (Amsterdam Schiphol)听听
• BCN (Barcelona) 

International airport codes

Some international airport codes include: 

• JFK (John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City) 
• LAX (Los Angeles International Airport) 

• ORD (Chicago O’Hare International Airport) 
• YYZ (Toronto Pearson International Airport), and  
• DXB (Dubai International Airport). 

Finding airport codes

Passengers can easily find their airport codes by checking their airline tickets, boarding passes, or baggage tags. They听can also be found on airport websites and in travel guides.

Additionally, there are numerous online resources that list them, such as the , which has a comprehensive list of all airports and their corresponding codes.听

According to various reports, the Air Atlanta Icelandic Boeing 747 took off at 2:30 pm local time and was airborne for less than half an hour, reaching an altitude of around 31,000 feet, when the pilot contacted Air Traffic Control (ATC) to say that the horse had escaped.听听

The incident was reported at around 4.30 pm local time, with the pilot stating: 鈥淲e are a cargo plane with a live animal, a horse, on board the airplane. And the horse managed to escape his stall.” 

He further explained the necessity of returning to New York as the crew was unable to 鈥済et the horse back secured鈥�.听

The pilot精东影业 audio message was posted on the YouTube channel . 

The pilot was allowed to divert and made a U-turn near the Canadian border. However, to ensure a safe landing back at JFK, the aircraft had to jettison approximately 20 tons of fuel over the Atlantic Ocean.  

The specific details of how the horse escaped and its condition upon return remain undisclosed, but the crew requested a veterinarian to be on standby due to the animal being “in difficulty鈥�. 

JFK houses the ARK, a facility known for its advanced animal care and veterinary services. While it has not been confirmed that the flight was associated with the ARK, it is plausible that the horse could have been brought there after the incident, given the facility’s role in handling animal transportation and care. 

This facility, named to reflect the safe haven concept of Noah’s Ark, is integral to the JFK精东影业 capabilities in handling and caring for animals during air travel. The ARK, located in JFK精东影业 Cargo Area D, specializes in pre- and post-travel animal care and veterinary services for pets, horses, birds, and exotic animals. 

Horses, specifically, are transported from planes to the ARK in branded vehicles, where they can start the required quarantine processes or receive immediate care.  

Otter, rat run amok on VietJet flight after escaping from suitcase of animals

• Airlines

byJean Carmela Lim

2023-10-16

According to , staff at Eurocontrol could now walk out, after talks regarding pay and conditions broke down.听听

Eurocontrol is responsible for developing and operating the air traffic management (ATM) network in Europe and beyond, allowing aircraft to move seamlessly between different air traffic controllers. 

An industry source told The Times that as many as 12,600 flights could be delayed or cancelled. 

鈥淚n a full-blown strike, 20 to 30% of flights would be delayed. They are big numbers,鈥� the source said.  

Reportedly, Eurocontrol deals with more than 96,000 messages a day from flight crews and airlines.  

Strikes could be announced as early as Monday, July 10, 2023, though any strike action could be diverted if a resolution is agreed between all parties. 

The Times claimed the Union Syndicale Bruxelles, which represents Eurocontrol workers, was requesting the immediate hiring of 20 more controllers.  

Many European airlines are finally beginning to see demand for travel return to pre-pandemic levels, and any talk of strikes will be seen as a major new setback for the aviation industry.听

Lufthansa Innovation Hub identifies top cities for Advanced Air Mobility launch

• Aviation Technology and Innovation

byClement Charpentreau

2024-07-12

According to EASA, the proposal was driven by the essential need to use a 鈥渟ingle and mutually recognized compliance demonstration methodology鈥� for ATM and ANS equipment and systems. If the proposal is approved by the European Commission (EC) and then passed on to the European Parliament (EP) and the Council of the European Union, it will 鈥渆nable a functioning EU market for this equipment and so ensure the safe, secure, interoperable, and efficient operation of the European ATM network for all phases of flight鈥�. 

鈥淭his proposal lays the strategic groundwork for the Single European Sky, a game changer to solve various obstacles faced in the modernisation of the European ATM system,鈥� stated Patrick Ky, the Executive Director of EASA. 

The plans to change the way ATM/ANS equipment is certified will focus on alleviating 鈥渂ottlenecks and inefficiencies in the previous conformity assessment framework, which were constraining and delaying technological evolution for ATM in the EU鈥�. As such, a single certificate will eliminate multiple processes that are in place today, freeing up their limited resources to focus instead on 鈥渉igher value-adding activities, resulting also in more efficient and effective oversight and enforcement processes in the EU鈥�. 

EASA put forward five implementing and delegated acts that also consolidate and transfer all eight implementing rules developed under the annulled Single European Sky Interoperability (SES IOP) framework. As a result, it would ease the process of implementing regulations, the agency added. 

Current regulations are applicable until September 12, 2023, which is why 鈥渋t is necessary to introduce a new regulatory framework in relation to ATM/ANS systems and ATM/ANS constituents that ensures the safe, interoperable, and efficient provision of ATM/ANS services,鈥� the EC noted in a draft regulation.  

SES was launched in 2004 with the goal of improving the performance of Europe精东影业 Air Traffic Control (ATC) system, including safety, capacity, and cost-efficiency, and sustainability. The proposal aims to introduce a more streamlined regulatory framework for the introduction of new technology in to the ATM system in the EU. 

EASA sides with FAA design requirements for Airbus A321XLR tank

• Aircraft

byGabriele Petrauskaite

2022-12-22

The Passenger Forum as 鈥渃ommuter network and mobility advocacy group campaigning for the protection of passenger rights and welfare鈥�. In a statement , The Passenger Forum said that CAAP must be held liable for making 鈥渢he worst New Year air transport situation in the country精东影业 history鈥�.

Primo Morillo, the group精东影业 convener, said that affected passengers cannot claim compensation because the flight cancellations and delays were not caused by airlines. Morillo also added that the current only provides compensation when airlines are at fault.

鈥淭his is probably the worst New Year for Filipino air passengers. Instead of going back happy from festivities and family gatherings, they were greeted with flight delays and cancellations. Worse, as airlines are not to blame, they cannot get any compensation,鈥� Morillo said.

Morillo added: 鈥淲ith this airport glitch, we cannot blame anyone but the government institutions in charge of ensuring the smooth operations of air traffic in the country. As the CAAP is a GOCC (government-owned and controlled corporation), they have their own funds and thus, they must pay for the damages incurred by their shortcomings.鈥�

The number of passengers affected by the New Years鈥� Day ATC outage is

According to local media when flights were grounded on January 1 2023, there were rumors that the problems were caused by a power outage that affected the Communications, Navigation and Surveillance Systems for Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) operated by the CAAP.

Philippines鈥� air traffic recovering following ATC outage

• Airport

byRytis Beresnevicius

2023-01-02

As the COVID-19 pandemic seemed to end, or at least the world found a way to live with the virus, it looked like the aviation industry had managed to reach the light at the end of the tunnel. 

The temporary spike in passenger numbers recorded between 2020 and 2021 provided plenty of hope that the industry could ride the wave of recovery and even go beyond levels seen in 2019.  

However, fortunes changed, and unprecedented events occurred, such as Russia精东影业 invasion of Ukraine, leading to a shift in global interests. 

At the same time, airlines were posting record revenues. American Airlines (A1G) (AAL), the largest airline by fleet size in the world, finished Q3 2022 with 鈥渞evenues of $13.5 billion in the third quarter, a 13% increase versus 2019 and a record for any quarter in company history.鈥� Delta Air Lines, another United States (US)-based carrier, ended the same quarter with 鈥渁djusted revenue 3 percent higher and unit revenues up 23 percent compared to 2019, marking the highest revenue and unit revenue quarter in Delta’s history,鈥� according to the airline精东影业 President, Glen Hauenstein. Other regions experienced their share of record-breaking results, such as Ryanair精东影业 recovery from 39.1 million passengers in H1 FY2022 to 95.1 million in H1 FY2023, or a strong showing by Japan-based All Nippon Airways (ANA), as the airline reversed a six-month loss in 2021 to a six-month profit by the end of September 2022, from 楼115.5 billion ($823.9 million) to 楼30.2 billion ($214.4 million). 

Emirates does not expect to receive new aircraft until 2024

• Airlines

byRytis Beresnevicius

2022-11-10

While reviewing the airline sector for in the United States, Daniel Martins, one of the founders of a California-based hedge fund firm, noted that it remains tricky to invest in the aviation industry.  

鈥淎t a high level, betting on such a procyclical sector is most appropriate during the early stage of recovery in economic activity. Instead, what I see happening today is a long overdue rebound in travel demand that could still be severely dented, should inflation and rapidly rising interest rates lead to something that resembles a recession next year,鈥� Martins concluded his analysis. 

Mixed fortunes and signals 

Looking at record-breaking revenue quarters one could assume that aviation is recovering well, even if fortunes have seemingly changed during the year. However, signals have been mixed, especially considering that Q3 is typically a peak travel period, as the Northern Hemisphere enjoys its fair share of sunshine across continents. 

Some of the previously mentioned airlines have issued warning signs, such as Ryanair expressing caution despite having experienced quite the recovery despite having quite the recovery. 鈥淭he recovery for the remainder of FY23 remains fragile and could yet be impacted by new Covid variants or adverse geopolitical events,鈥� the airline精东影业 H1 FY2023 financial report noted, continuing that the company hopes to avoid 鈥渁ny repeat of last year精东影业 Omicron lockdowns which damaged last Christmas at such short notice.鈥� 

The Ireland-based carrier said in its outlook that 鈥渁s is normal, at this time of year, we have almost zero visibility into Q4 [Q4 FY2023, from January 1, 2023, to March 31, 2023 鈥� ed. note] which is traditionally our weakest quarter and which this year doesn鈥檛 have any Easter benefit.鈥� 

The upcoming, as well as the first quarter of the next calendar year, will provide short-term guidance on how consumers are dealing with the current financial difficulties, including inflation. While the Irish low-cost carrier argued that 鈥渨e expect to grow strongly in a recession as consumers won鈥檛 stop flying, but rather they will become more price sensitive,鈥� the same could not be said about travel across oceans, including the Atlantic and the Pacific. 

鈥淲e haven’t seen Asia fully recover. So outbound China International is almost zero. Japan is not nearly back to pre-recovery levels,鈥� Tom Klein, a Senior Managing Director of Certares, an investment management company, told 精东影业 during an exclusive interview.  According to Klein, these areas are important for airlines and the global economy, which indicates that it is currently too early to claim that the industry has fully recovered.

With high fares, such as those seen for travel between the United States and Europe tripling to what it was prior to the pandemic, 鈥測ou are seeing a big revenue surge, but it is really based on fares,鈥� Klein continued. 

China eases anti-Covid measures for international travelers

• Civil Aviation

byRytis Beresnevicius

2022-11-29

And while leisure travel continued to boom, business travel lagged. This is despite the fact that while the pandemic introduced various work-from-home and teleconferencing solutions, in-person meetings are still a vital part of sealing a deal and improving customer relationships. However, economic uncertainty seems to be causing companies to tighten their belts when it comes to business travel, which is therefore unable to recover as quickly as leisure travel did.   

In a , jointly conducted by Tourism Economics, the US Travel Association, and J.D. Power, 鈥渁 smaller share of business travelers in Q3 expect to take at least one trip in the next six months, compared to Q2,鈥� as mostly large companies (1001+ employees) 鈥渉ave implemented cost controls or spending limits,鈥� the results of the survey indicated. Looking forward, though, the economic conditions 鈥減oint to moderating business activity during 2022 Q4 relative to 2022 Q3,鈥� the survey noted.  

Klein still pointed out that passengers are back and that early forecasts indicate that the trend will continue, even if some of those customers were part of the so-called pent-up demand travelers. 

鈥淲e think that in general, business travel is still lagging, while leisure travel has boomed. As business travel comes back, even if leisure travel moderates a little bit, I think we get back to 2019 levels in a relatively near future,鈥� Klein said.  

Consumer spending and cash reserves 

One factor that could indicate whether pent-up demand was a short-term trend could be household savings which boomed during the early stages of the pandemic. 

According to Eurostat data, in the European Union (EU), the seasonally and calendar-adjusted household saving rate jumped to 23.89% in Q2 2020, followed by a temporary dip during the next six months, before going upwards once again in Q1 2021, as the rate stood at 21.07%. 

The statistic, indicating the total amount of net savings as a percentage of net household disposable income, then dipped to 12.55% as of Q2 2022. 

According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) forecast of household savings, the rate is set to dwindle further, including in some of the largest economies in the world, such as Germany and the US. 

Still, Klein indicates that while the industry is a little cautious, it will be important to monitor whether consumers can continue spending like they were able to do when COVID-19 regulations were largely abolished across the globe, and they were free to travel once again. 

鈥淲hether or not that can continue in an environment where there’s a little bit of inflation, and maybe a little pullback in the economy, is anybody’s guess,鈥� he added. 

Getting back to 2019 levels should be the goal of the industry going forward, Klein noted, which will provide the foundations for further growth. 鈥淎t some point over the next couple of years, we will return to the normal growth in the industry, which is kind of north of the [global 鈥� ed. note] General Domestic Product (GDP). If the global GDP is 2%, travel goes a little faster than that,鈥� Klein specified.  

However, he still warned that the future still carries a fair amount of uncertainty because there are still questions about how various macroeconomic factors can impact consumers.  

The International Air Transport Association (IATA)精东影业 Quarterly Air Transport Chartbook for Q3 2022 also indicated that while bookings are healthy for the coming months, as of September 7, 2022, only 12% of airline ticket sales were for the period from January 2023 and beyond. Furthermore, according to IATA, 鈥渃onsumer surveys confirm that geopolitical and macroeconomic concerns have overtaken COVID-19 as the primary risk.鈥� 

To counteract the doom and gloom, IATA noted that following the shock the industry experienced in 2020, 鈥渢he improvement has been nothing short of spectacular. In 2022 we expect industry losses to shrink to USD 9.7 billion for a net loss margin of -1.2%.鈥� Furthermore, the association精东影业 surveyed Chief Financial Officers (CFO) and cargo executives are positive about the outlook, with nearly 80% expecting greater profitability over the coming 12 months, which is an outlook that is 鈥渏ust shy of the high set in 2010鈥�. 

鈥淯ndoubtedly, the strong recovery seen in the passenger business this year is a key driver of this positive outlook for profitability going forward,鈥� concluded IATA精东影业 Q3 2022 analysis. 

Responding to growing passenger demand 

Assuming the post positive, or a somewhat positive, outlook for the short-term future, the question is whether the airline industry is prepared to handle the surge in traffic, something that was quite difficult to handle during the peak summer months. 

In general, the problem has been three-fold. For one, aircraft deliveries have been delayed from Airbus and Boeing. The problem, at least according to Air Lease Corporation精东影业 (ALC) Executive Chairman Steven Udvar-H谩zy, will get worse before it gets better. The executive during the Skift Aviation Forum that every aircraft scheduled for delivery during this and the following year 鈥渋s delayed,鈥� with Udvar-H谩zy predicting that manufacturers will be able to meet their obligations in 2023 or 2024. Interestingly, ALC精东影业 lease retention rate now stands at 90%, while the historic rate stood at about 60%. That means that airlines have to operate older aircraft and even resort to restoring or bringing older jets out of retirement, which would have otherwise made little economic sense. 

Ryanair精东影业 Chief Executive Michael O鈥橪eary put it bluntly when he said that Boeing精东影业 inability to meet the agreed delivery schedule hampered the airline精东影业 growth, with the US planemaker delivering just half of the contracted 737 MAX aircraft before Christmas.  

The Irish low-cost carrier was not the only airline impacted by delays, and the failure to meet contractual obligations is also an issue across the Atlantic Ocean. JetBlue (JBLU), for example, stated that 鈥渄ue to Airbus delivery delays, our capacity planning assumptions assume delivery in 2023 of a minimum of 14 A220 aircraft, five A321neo aircraft, and three A321neo LR, for a total of at least 22 aircraft.鈥� In its prior assessment, the airline anticipated that it would receive 29 aircraft throughout the year.   

Ryanair concerned by 鈥淏oeing精东影业 inability to meet its delivery schedule鈥�: CEO

• Aviation Economics & Finance

byGabriele Petrauskaite

2022-11-07

Finally, there精东影业 the problem of a lack of crew and other personnel. Airports, such as Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) were forced to introduce passenger caps (AMS recently extended its cap until March 2023) to alleviate some of the pressure caused by their full-strength operation.  

鈥淜eeping to a maximum number of travellers is vital. We want to ensure the safety of employees and travelers, in addition to providing a more reliable airport process,鈥� stated Hanne Buis, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Royal Schiphol Group in September 2022. 鈥淭ogether with the security companies and unions, we are working hard on making structural improvements 鈥� a daunting task in a very tight labor market,鈥� she added.

Airlines are also facing less-than-ideal employee rosters, with large incentives offered for newly recruited personnel. One example is the $100,000 bonus offered by American Airlines (A1G) (AAL)-associated regionals, including Piedmont Airlines, for captains to join the smaller companies. Piedmont Airlines鈥� CEO said that it will have a gap in pilot availability between 2023 and 2024 and that it is looking for people to cover that period, offering not only the bonus but also the ability to advance through the ranks within American Airlines鈥� (A1G) (AAL) career eco-system for pilots. 

US regional Piedmont offers $100,000 bonus to attract experienced pilots

• Airlines

byVictoria Bryan

2022-11-16

Digitalization of air traffic management 

Digitalization will be another space to monitor, as Klein pointed out that 鈥渢he biggest bang for the buck for the industry is the modernization of the operating systems and modernization of air traffic control, which really isn’t within the airline’s control.鈥�  

According to the director at Certares, governments in the EU and US have to step up. Investing in air traffic control management 鈥渨ould have a significant impact on the efficiencies of airlines, their green footprint, and the general operating performance that happens day-to-day to satisfy customers.鈥� 

An example of this can be seen with the French Air Traffic Control (ATC) system, where one of the Area Control Centers (ACC) was upgraded to the latest 4-FLIGHT ATC system in October 2022. A leaflet, prepared by the French Ministry of Ecology, noted that while the French Air Traffic Management (ATM) system handled more than 3 million flights in 2019, the system精东影业 鈥渁rchitecture dates back to the 1970s and it is no longer fitted to handle the latest generation of technological standards and the new, operational concepts involved in the Single European Sky.鈥� With the launch of 4-FLIGHT, the direction des Services de la navigation a茅rienne (DSNA), expects a safer, more sustainable, and cost-efficient system that will also increase the potential capacity controllers can handle while directing aircraft from and to the French ACCs. 

鈥淭he coronavirus pandemic has brought about deep changes. Aviation is becoming more environmentally friendly, driven by the digital transformation of the sector. With 4-FLIGHT, France now has a new-generation technological base that will be equipped to deal with these new air transport challenges,鈥� Florian Guillermet, the director of the DSNA, was quoted as saying. 

How does it work? Navigating airports

• Airport

byAlec Wignall

2022-11-11

Even then, ATC is not the only area where there is potential for digitalization. While airports and airlines have partnered to implement facial recognition and other touchless technologies, there are parts of the air travel chain where manual labor is the only option. While passengers get themselves on the plane, Klein pointed out, 鈥渂ags and cargo cannot get themselves to the plane, there have to be people involved.鈥� 

The breakdown happened, especially during the Summer, because companies did not foresee 鈥渨hat精东影业 required from a manpower perspective and being able to deploy the people required to serve the customer.鈥� 

These are not threats, but rather opportunities for the airline industry to move forward and improve the customer experience as it continues to move away from the pandemic. 

Outlook remains positive and opportunity-filled 

Despite the chaos experienced throughout the summer and the currently unfavorable economic conditions, air travel appears to have restabilized. 

鈥淓ven with economic and geopolitical uncertainties, the demand for air transport continues to recover ground. The outlier is still China with its pursuit of a zero COVID strategy keeping borders largely closed and creating a demand roller coaster ride for its domestic market,鈥� commented Willie Walsh, IATA精东影业 Director General, when the association published an overview of the passenger market as of September 2022. 鈥淪trong demand is helping the industry cope with sky high fuel prices,鈥� continued Walsh, adding that airlines need to pay attention to passengers鈥� wishes and their feedback after dealing with pandemic-related travel complexities. 

The question to ask as we move forward is whether consolidation, a term that has floated around the industry throughout the most intense moments of the pandemic, will truly become a phenomenon in the industry.  

And in some form, it has. whether it would be the saga 鈥淲ho Will Buy Spirit Airlines (S64) (SAVE)?鈥� or Avianca (AVHOQ) and GOL Airlines joining forces under a single holding company. The latter, according to a jointly released announcement 鈥渃ustomers to benefit from the best fares, access to more destinations, more frequent flights and seamless connections, and the ability to earn and use points across LifeMiles and Smiles, the brands鈥� market-leading loyalty programs.” 

Even then, North America remains an extremely consolidated market, with a few big players and old and new niche carriers trying to chip away at the market share. 

鈥淚t is no surprise that there has been years and years of consolidation in the US market, and as new carriers emerge over time, they get to a point where their organic growth just cannot make them big enough to compete the way they want to,鈥� Klein assessed. 

A good example could well be the Spirit Airlines (S64) (SAVE)-JetBlue (JBLU) merger, as the airlines have reached their limit of growth. 

Spirit Airlines shareholders approve $3.8B merger agreement with JetBlue听

• Airlines

byGabriele Petrauskaite

2022-10-20

Another continent to monitor, according to Klein, could be Africa, which 鈥渋s more healthy than it has ever been in our lifetime鈥�. 

鈥淧rior to the pandemic, five of the fastest-growing tourism markets in the world were on the continent. And if you look at the age demographic of the continent, it is quite young,鈥� he added. With a young demographic and more opportunities, Klein expects Africa 鈥渢o be a very rich place for travel growth over the next couple of decades.鈥� 

鈥淚 think companies that do not pay attention and do not invest there will be sorry they did not,鈥� Klein concluded.  

With 64% of fleets grounded in West Africa, how can ACMI help?

• Columnists

byGediminas Ziemelis

2022-11-16

The decision was made in response to the major impact of Russia精东影业 aggression on Ukraine on air traffic across Europe. 

A total of 41 member states of Eurocontrol have entrusted the organization to establish and manage two funds, which will be used to cover air traffic control staff training and other related costs which are crucial 鈥渢o ensure operational readiness and continuity when air traffic recovers.鈥�  

According to the Eurocontrol statement released on November 24, 2022, the agency will create a 鈧�46.5 million fund of donation to both Ukraine and Moldova as well as a separate fund in the form of a 鈧�46.1 million loan to four European countries, including Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland. 

鈥淲e are all aware of the major impact Putin精东影业 war of aggression on Ukraine has had on air traffic across the European continent. Eurocontrol stands in solidarity with Ukraine and the other states whose air traffic control services have been so severely impacted,鈥� the organization精东影业 director general Eamonn Brennan was cited in the statement as saying. 

War, rising costs to delay European air traffic recovery, predicts Eurocontrol

• War in Ukraine

byVictoria Bryan

2022-10-18

鈥淭his decision allows us together to take collective action to provide support and funding to ensure the longer-term viability of air traffic control in any State that is impacted in such a way now and in the future. […] Showing solidarity towards Ukraine, which is facing brutal aggression, is the very least Eurocontrol members can do, and I am sure we will show solidarity until the war is over with Ukrainian success and we embark in re-innovating and re-building Ukraine,鈥� Brennan added. 

The Ukrainian airspace has been closed since Russia invaded the country on February 24, 2022, leading to a loss of staff and income from route charges. 

Considering a career in air traffic control? Five things you need to know

• Civil Aviation

byJean Carmela Lim

2022-10-21

Air traffic controllers are the quiet heroes who guide pilots to safety. To mark the occasion, 精东影业 would like to celebrate the hard work and dedication of the people on the ground (and in the towers) who help make air travel as safe as possible.

on a 2022 list of 鈥淭he 30 Most Stressful Jobs鈥� compiled by online career resource Career Diet, it is far from an easy role.

So, here are some things that you should probably know if you’re considering a career in air traffic control.

There精东影业 more than one type of air traffic controller

There are three types of air traffic controllers, each involved in different parts of a flight.

While different countries have varying yet similar terms for the job, overall air traffic controllers typically fall into three general roles responsible for different stages of a flight.

1. Tower controllers 

They work inside the tall, glass-covered towers that we see in airports, officially called airport traffic control towers. They manage aircraft movements in and near an aerodrome. Aerodrome refers to any location that can carry out any flight operations regardless of the type of aircraft.  

2. Approach and departure controllers

These controllers work in the radar room, managing the flow of aircraft as they arrive and depart from airports. 

3. En route controllers

              These controllers work at Air Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCC) and use surveillance technology to manage aircraft movements in upper airspace, including continental and oceanic routes.

Types of air traffic controllers. Image credit: airservicesaustralia.com

Being an air traffic controller provides financial stability 

The rumors are true. Working in air traffic control pays off. On average, air traffic controllers are paid six-figure salaries because the nature of the work is stressful, exhausting, and leaves no room for error. 

2021 shows that the median salary of air traffic controllers per year is $129,750 / $62.38 per hour. This is more than double the  average annual salary for all occupations, which is $51,960.

suggests a higher figure, showing that the median annual wage for air traffic controllers was $138,556 in 2021.

The below TikTok video created by an air traffic controller went viral after she revealed that she earns $145,277 per year, and her hourly rate is $69. She clarified that the figure is before any overtime pay or differentials. 

with @itsnitababyyy Air traffic controllers are compensated pretty well鈥�

In the comments section, many viewers asked how they can 鈥榮ign up鈥� for this kind of job. However, a couple of commenters acknowledged the hard work required to be an air traffic controller. One viewer commented: 鈥淚f most people mess up on their job, it精东影业 not a big deal. If she messes up in her job, people could die. Absolutely a fair compensation.鈥�

Another viewer noted: 鈥�I can’t function at a job that requires 100% accuracy.鈥�

You must begin your air traffic controller training course no later than the age of 31

If you are thinking of becoming an air traffic controller, not only should you consider the move carefully, you also need to decide quickly. Before you turn 31, specifically.

We often hear that 鈥渁ge is just a number鈥�, but not for the FAA, especially when it comes to a career in air traffic control. 

This is because the FAA has determined through extensive research that the older someone is, the harder it is for them to complete the rigorous training.

The was conducted in 1971, and has the title, 鈥淭he Relationship Between Chronological Age and Aptitude Test Measures of Advanced Air Traffic Control Trainees.鈥�

The study found: 鈥淥n most tests, performance means for subjects over age 34 were significantly lower than those obtained for the younger trainees, and their attrition rate for the training course was three times that of their younger classmates. The results indicated that greater effectiveness in screening such applicants could be attained if eligibility standards were modified to include consideration of both age and aptitudes.鈥�

According to the FAA though, those who already have experience working in air traffic control can be hired up . 

Air traffic controllers must retire by the age of 56

Due to the intensity of the job, the FAA makes it mandatory for air traffic controllers to retire by the age of 56.

In 2005, the Civil Aerospace Medical Institute and the FAA created a called, 鈥淩elationship of Air Traffic Control Specialist Age to En Route Operational Errors.鈥�

It found that 鈥渢he odds of operational error (OE) for older controllers (aged 56 above), were 1.02 times greater than the odds for younger controllers (aged 55 and below).鈥�

In the United States, a worker needs at least 25 years of service in a federal role before they are able to retire and receive benefits.

There are nearly 6,000 women in the FAA精东影业 Air Traffic Organization

There are 17,943 air traffic controllers in the United States, and 6,000 are women. It精东影业 a small number which needs to increase, but it精东影业 a big improvement from 1971-1972, where a referred to air traffic control as a 鈥測oung man精东影业 game鈥�.

Although women only take up 19% of air traffic controllers, the FAA has made provisions, and a better structured bidding process, in order to give women a better chance at landing a position. 

In March 2020, air traffic controllers at New York Center celebrated a milestone in time for Women精东影业 History Month when the center completed an entire shift with all 13 positions staffed by women. 

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Have you made up your mind yet about becoming an air traffic controller? 

Try taking to see if you鈥檝e got what it takes to be one. 

Love aviation? Eurocontrol aims to boost interest in air traffic controller jobs

• Civil Aviation

byVictoria Bryan

2022-05-10