US airlines, 1,1% on-time arrival decrease in 3Q, 2014

The nation’s largest airlines posted an on-time arrival rate of 77.7 percent in August, down from the 78.8 percent on-time rate in August 2013, but up from the 75.6 percent mark in July 2014, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Air Travel Consumer Report released today.

In addition, the reporting carriers canceled 1.2 percent of their scheduled domestic flights in August, up from the 1.0 percent cancellation rate posted in August 2013, but down from the 1.6 percent rate in July 2014.

The consumer report also includes data on tarmac delays, chronically delayed flights, and the causes of flight delays filed with the Department’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) by the reporting carriers. In addition, the consumer report contains information on mishandled baggage reports filed by consumers with the carriers and consumer service, disability, and discrimination complaints received by DOT’s Aviation Consumer Protection Division. The consumer report also includes reports of incidents involving the loss, death, or injury of pets traveling by air, as required to be filed by U.S. carriers.

Tarmac Delays

In August, airlines reported one tarmac delay of more than three hours on a domestic flight and no tarmac delays of more than four hours on international flights. The reported tarmac delay is under investigation by the Department.

Chronically Delayed Flights

At the end of August, there were nine flights that were chronically delayed – more than 30 minutes late more than 50 percent of the time – for three consecutive months. There were an additional 16 regularly scheduled flights that were chronically delayed for two consecutive months. There were no chronically delayed flights for four consecutive months or more. A list of flights that were chronically delayed for a single month is available from BTS.

Causes of Flight Delays

In August, the carriers filing on-time performance data reported that 6.14 percent of their flights were delayed by aviation system delays, compared to 6.16 percent in July; 7.97 percent by late-arriving aircraft, compared to 9.01 percent in July; 6.01 percent by factors within the airline’s control, such as maintenance or crew problems, compared to 6.59 percent in July; 0.68 percent by extreme weather, compared to 0.70 percent in July; and 0.03 percent for security reasons, equal to 0.03 percent in July.

Weather is a factor in both the extreme-weather category and the aviation-system category. This includes delays due to the re-routing of flights by DOT’s Federal Aviation Administration in consultation with the carriers involved. Weather is also a factor in delays attributed to late-arriving aircraft, although airlines do not report specific causes in that category.

Data collected by BTS also shows the percentage of late flights delayed by weather, including those reported in either the category of extreme weather or included in National Aviation System delays. In August, 35.73 percent of late flights were delayed by weather, up from 33.68 percent in July and 33.83 percent in August 2013.

Source and image: U.S. DoT

MH17 Ukraine сrash victim found with oxygen mask

According to Lenta.ru, body of a passenger, found at the place of Boeing wreckage in Ukraine, was found with the oxygen mask on, reports Frans Timmermans, the Foreign Affairs Minister of Netherlands.

Having this in mind, explains the Minister, the passenger must have had enough time to put the mask on his face. “Therefore, the version may not be denied” – says the Frans Timmermans in his interview with de Volkskrant.

Previously experts have stated that all the passengers had lost their conscious and died due to depressurization of the aircraft.

According to one of the versions, the aircraft was hit by a missile. Authorities from Netherlands are responsible for the investigation of the catastrophe causalities, while the black boxes are being analysed in the United Kingdom.

Source and image: Lenta.ru

Ebola Zombies Are Real: 2 Ebola Victims ‘Rise from the Dead

Panic is spreading across an African community after reports that two Ebola victims have risen from the dead. No, this is not a movie script or a new book from Stephen King. The victims, both females in their 40s and 60s, died recently of the deadly virus in separate communities in Nimba County, Liberia.

According to reports in a local newspaper, the two women have reportedly been resurrected and have been seen walking among the living. Needless to say this has created a great deal of panic and fear among locals.

Dorris Quoi of Hope Village Community and a second victim identified as Ma Kebeh, both died about the same time. Ma Kebeh had been indoors for two nights without food or medication before her death. No additional information was available on Dorris Quoi.

While details are sketchy, The New Dawn Hospital in Nimba County said, both victims, were pronounced dead by medical personnel, and were about to be taken for burial when they rose from the dead. Since the Ebola outbreak in Nimba County, this is the first incident of dead victims resurrecting, the paper said.

Nimba County has recently reported news of other unusual Ebola cases. In what may be a related case a native doctor from the county, who claimed that he could cure infected victims, himself died from the virus last week. There is no information as to his resurrection or lack thereof.

The Ebola outbreak has already killed at least 3,800 people in five West African countries this year while an estimated 13,800 people have been infected with the virus, which has no known cure. America’s respected Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has predicted there could be up to 1.4 million cases of deadly Ebola by the end of January. This underscores the reason for all victims of the virus to be either cremated or buried in special escape proof coffins.

Ethiopean receives its 10th B787 Dreamliner

Boeing forecasts World Air Cargo traffic to double in next 20 Years

Boeing projects air cargo traffic will grow at an annual rate of 4.7 percent over the next 20 years, with global air-freight traffic expected to more than double by 2033.

Emirates Airline to strategically focus on Africa

Emirates is placing a strategic focus on Africa in the coming decade by increasing operations by over 40%, said Sir Tim Clark speaking last week at the Africa Global Business Forum 2014.

Speaking at the conference around the theme of 'Connectivity and Trade - Supporting Dubai as the Hub to Africa', Sir Tim Clark, president of Emirates Airline said: "Africa has been a great growth story for us. The Government of Dubai recognised the untapped potential of Africa early on and Emirates has been instrumental in supporting the region’s growth. Today, Emirates fleet investment in Africa tops $7 billion with operating costs of over $2 billion. We will add around 10 destinations in the next decade and will continue our investment and commitment to introduce more frequencies to our existing points to provide critical links to emerging markets from Asia, the Middle East and Australia."

"Africa is still an underserved market and Emirates will continue to channel traffic through the Dubai hub, which has already become a key gateway for the African continent," continued Clark.

Dubai’s geographical location makes it possible for African travellers to experience shorter travel times, which have been historically routed through European hubs like London, Paris and Frankfurt.

In the past five years, Emirates carried over 1.6 million passengers and 40,000 tons of cargo between Africa and China, underscoring the vital trade relationship that the continent has with the east . By 2020, Emirates expects to provide an additional 8.5 million seats to its African capacity.

There are over 500,000 African nationals that currently reside in Dubai. Over 800,000 African Nationals visited Dubai last year alone and it is estimated that by 2020 tourism from Africa to Dubai will reach over 1.5 million visitors per year.

Emirates currently operates 22 passenger and 6 dedicated freighter destinations to Africa.

DHL Express certified as Top Employer 2015 in Africa

DHL Express SSA has been certified as a Top Employer in Africa for its outstanding employee offerings across the region.his is in addition to six African countries - South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia and Ghana that were also certified Top Employers in their local markets. Independent research by the Top Employers Institute shows the company looks after its people exceptionally well and DHL Express is one of the select few companies to achieve the exclusive Top Employers Africa 2015 certification in various African regions in which they operate. According to Charles Brewer, MD of DHL Express Sub Saharan Africa, this achievement is an acknowledgement of the business’s strong focus on employee engagement, development and training on the African continent. Top Employers is a global and annual programme that certifies organisations which successfully demonstrate exceptional HR environments and employee offerings. The programme is an audited and research based process that assesses employee offerings as well as the conditions employers create for staff to develop. Brewer says that this accolade is testament to their dedication of having motivated employees, which is a key focus pillar of their strategy. “Understanding the need to drive a common culture across 220 countries, we launched a Certified International Specialists training program for all 3,500 staff in Africa. Everyone from the Global CEO to a Courier in any country has gone through this training program reinforcing our core competencies as an organization. CIS training has been central to our staff retention and development globally.” The Top Employers Institute assessed DHL Express’ employee offerings on various criteria, including talent strategy, workforce planning, employee on, learning & development, performance management, leadership development, career & succession management, compensation & benefits and company culture. Crucial to the Top Employers process is that participating companies must meet the required high standard in the research in order to achieve the certification. Only organizations that achieve certification in at least four countries within the region deserve the special Top Employers Africa 2015 recognition. The independent research has verified DHL Express’ outstanding employee conditions in all certified countries. Judith Oude Sogtoen, director of international business development for the Top Employers Institute: “Our extensive research concluded that DHL Express forms part of a select group of employers that advance employee conditions worldwide. Their people are well taken care of. Now that they have received the Top Employers Africa 2015 certification, they can truly consider themselves at the top of an exclusive group of the world’s best employers. A reason to celebrate!” “We truly value external recognition and believe that it affirms our position as the International Specialists in Africa,” concludes Brewer. Charles Brewer, MD of DHL Express Sub Saharan Africa