Global airport industry climate action surpasses 200 airports

At this year's ACI World & Africa Annual General Assembly (WAGA) hosted by Airports of Mauritius Co, the global airport industry issued an update on the progress it has been making in addressing its CO2 emissions, through the independent and voluntary global certification programme, Airport Carbon Accreditation, with Townsville Airport in Queensland, Australia, becoming the 200th airport to enter the programme, certified at Level 1 Mapping, earlier this week.

As is customary at this time of year, Airports Council International also released the annual report for Airport Carbon Accreditation (covering the period May 2016 to May 2017), showing how the global airport industry is delivering on its commitment to lower its own CO2 emissions, made in 2007. 

Angela Gittens, Director General, ACI World commented “This past year has seen continued engagement from airports - with 36 new applications to Airport Carbon Accreditation and more airports reaching a higher level of certification within the programme. As a result, we are able to announce that we now have 201 airports participating in Airport Carbon Accreditation. These airports welcome over 39.6% of global air passenger traffic. To put that into context, that means more than 2.8 billion passengers now travel through airports certified at one of the four levels of the programme.

“From May 2016 to May 2017, accredited airports succeeded in collectively reducing the CO2 emissions under their direct control by 202,184 tonnes of CO2 - that’s equivalent to the CO2 emitted during the lifecycle of over 2.1 million iPhones.”

Niclas Svenningsen, who heads the Climate Neutral Now initiative at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Secretariat in Bonn, Germany commented: “People are aware of the public conversation about Climate Change between governments and the work underway to forge and implement policies that support a sustainable future, but effective climate action also relies enormously on an innovative and proactive private sector – and Airport Carbon Accreditation is a really good example of that. By providing a clear, yet ambitious framework that accommodates the multi-speed nature of airports’ efforts across the world, this is actively encouraging and stimulating a collective effort by the Global airport industry – one that is also engaging other aviation stakeholders to get involved as well. Something other industries and sectors would do well to try to foster.”

More African Airports on Board
Participation growth in the African continent has been particularly remarkable – going from three airports in the programme a year ago, to now 10 accredited airports. These airports welcome 28% of African air passenger traffic. An additional six US airports also became certified for the first time and US airports were also major contributors to the overall reduction of CO2 emissions achieved last year – with Dallas Fort Worth becoming the first airport in the Americas reaching carbon neutral status. These achievements reflect the continued commitment of US airports to addressing climate change, despite the withdrawal of the US from the Paris Agreement. 

A number of airports received their certificates at a dedicated Airport Carbon Accreditation ceremony during this year’s WAGA in Mauritius:
•         ACSA (Airports Company of South Africa) received four certificates – each at Level 1 Mapping for Cape Town International (Cape Town), King Shaka International (Durban), O.R. Tambo International (Johannesburg) and Port Elizabeth International (Port Elizabeth) airports. 

•         ONDA (Moroccan Airports Authority) collected two Level 1 Mapping certificates for two of its airports: Casablanca Mohammed V International and Marrakech Menara Airport.

•         From Latin America there were also Level 1 Mapping certificates presented to Guayaquil International Airport and Carrasco International Airport, Montevideo 

•         The final airport to be certified at Level 1 Mapping was Sir Seewosagur Ramgoolan International Airport in Mauritius – the host of this year’s WAGA.

•         Meanwhile, at Level 2 Reduction, there were 2 certifications: Libreville Leon Mba International Airport and Quito International Airport.  

-          Aeria’s Felix Houphouet Boigny Airport – the airport of Abidjan – also received its Level 3+ Neutrality certificate, distinguishing itself as the very first African airport to achieve carbon neutral status.

With four different levels of accreditation covering all stages of carbon management (Mapping, Reduction, Optimisation and Neutrality), Airport Carbon Accreditation is independently administered, institutionally-endorsed and has the support of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), United Nation Environment Programme (UNEP), the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), US Federal Aviation Administration and the European Commission (EC).

Germania flight lands in Sharm El Sheikh

Germania flight took off from Berlin-Schönefeld headed for Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt with 201 passengers on board. With a second aircraft now based at Schönefeld, Germania is flying this route, among others, once a week during the winter season, thereby reviving a service between the German capital and the Red Sea beach resort that has not been available for four and a half years.

Additional new features in Germania's winter flight schedule from SXF include Hurghada, Fuerteventura and Gran Canaria. The service to Hurghada is being increased from once a week to three times per week. Travellers can now also escape the cold winter temperatures by flying to the Canary Islands Fuerteventura and Gran Canaria. As in the last winter season, there will also be flights to Tenerife and Paphos in Cyprus. Among the scheduled routes to the Middle East, Germania will continue operating several weekly flights to Teheran and Beirut this winter, thereby establishing itself as a firm partner for intercultural flights.

The airline with the green and white livery is committed to a policy for growth at this base, which also covers Berlin-Tegel airport. From 1 November 2017 Germania will be basing an aircraft there, offering flights to the Canary islands of Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Tenerife, in conjunction with tour operators. The plan is to further increase the fleet in May 2018, when Germania will be operating two additional aircraft from Berlin-Tegel.

"Germania will achieve 400% growth in Berlin," commented Clauspeter Schwarz, Germania's Chief Operating Officer, on Friday, when the first of the new flights took off. "This is our response to market changes and a greater presence in the capital."

"We are very pleased with the increased commitment of Germania to Berlin," remarked Prof. Dr.-Ing. Engelbert Lütke Daldrup, CEO of Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg GmbH. "The wider range of flight offerings, the development of its bases at our two locations, Schönefeld and Tegel, as well as the maintenance operations at SXF make the airline a key partner for us."

ASKY to resume flights to Free Town, Monrovia and Banjul in November

ASKY Airlines CEO, Ahadu Simachew, said: ”Resuming our flights to these West African cities will surely increase our presence in the region. Our passengers will now enjoy new direct flights between: Cotonou – Niamey, Accra – Monrovia, Accra – Freetown, Freetown – Banjul, Douala – Libreville. Above all, the strategic partnership with ASKY has played significant role in enhancing regional cooperation, commerce and people to people ties.”

Group CEO Ethiopian Airlines, Tewolde GebreMariam said, “Air connectivity is a vital component and key driver of economic development. As an indigenous African Airline, we have always been committed to connect African states together and with the rest of the world through efficient and seamless network . 

 In line with our multi-hub strategy in Africa: one brand with multiple products, we are proud of the successful partnership with ASKY and we have been successfully serving the needs of passengers travelling within, to and from West and Central Africa through our Lomé hub. The addition of Free Town, Monrovia and Banjul in our vast intra African network would provide travellers from these cities added convenience to seamlessly connect to more than 100 international destination via Ethiopian global network in five continents. Moreover, in addition to these cities, Accra will be able to connect to Ethiopian flights to Newark in Lomé, giving Ghanaian travellers convenient connectivity to the New York triState area.”

RwandAir to operate direct flights from Brussels to Kigali by the end of October

RwandAir will continue to offer three weekly flights from/to Brussels on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; however flights from Brussels to Kigali will no longer be operated via London Gatwick which will eliminate the requirement for non-Schengen citizens to hold a UK transit visa and to disembark for rescreening at London Gatwick Airport.

The new schedule was made possible pursuant to negotiations with Gatwick Airport for an earlier slot out of London, enabling our aircraft to return to Brussels ahead of the jet ban.

“We are confident that the new schedule will improve the experience of our esteemed clients boarding from Brussels, while maintaining our schedule from London with only one stop in Brussels,” said Chance Ndagano, Ag. CEO of RwandAir. 

Passengers embarking from London-Gatwick Airport will stay onboard the aircraft at Zaventem Airport in Brussels and will not need a Schengen transit visa.

RwandAir’s state of the art Airbus A330 fleet, configured in a triple class cabin with inflight connectivity will continue to operate the Brussels – Gatwick route and conveniently connect across Africa via Kigali with the following timings.

Air Mauritius takes delivery of its first A350 XWB

Air Mauritius has taken delivery of its first Airbus A350-900 aircraft, opening a new chapter for the Indian Ocean carrier. The aircraft, leased from AerCap, was delivered during a ceremony held in Mauritius today.

The Mauritian airline based airline has chosen a very comfortable two class layout with a total of 326 seats comprising 28 in Business Class and 298 in Economy Class. 

The A350-900 equipped with Air Mauritius’ latest cabin products including new seats, an all-new inflight entertainment system and inflight connectivity will offer passengers unparalleled levels of comfort and convenience.

This A350-900 is the first of six to be delivered to Air Mauritius. Four will be purchased directly from Airbus and two leased from AerCap. The carrier will deploy the aircraft on its expanding route network connecting Mauritius with Asia, Africa and Europe. 

Air Mauritius already operates a fleet of 10 Airbus aircraft including six A340-300s, two A330-200s and two A319s on its regional and long haul services.
 
The A350 XWB features an aerodynamic design, carbon fibre fuselage and wings, plus new fuel-efficient Rolls-Royce engines.

Tecnam Strengthens Its Presence In Australia, New Zealand

Capua, Italy-based Tecnam Aircraft has established a corporate presence in Australia. The company’s worldwide Sales Director, Walter Da Costa, made the announcement today, saying that it will be managed by its Australian Sales Team. After many years of successful operation, and with a brand-new product line to be offered in General Aviation, Tecnam has decided to confirm its presence in Australia and to sell and support its products directly”, Da Costa said.

The company has prepared its marketing strategy, which will be in two parts.  The first is its long-established and highly respected Light Sport Aircraft product line, which can be registered in the Recreational Aviation Australia area or VH with CASA.  Tecnam will spearhead this entry into the market with its high-performing P2008 model, which has great looks, an impressive history of durability and is the ideal aircraft for all types of operations from personal flying to training.

Da Costa said that management of the Light Sport Aircraft fleet, along with the management and supply of all spare parts, will be carried out by Bruce Stark, a long-term representative of Tecnam products in Australia.

Tecnam is also announcing its entry into the certified Australian General Aviation market with the introduction of three new models.  The P2006T is an outstanding light twin aircraft operating Rotax engines and it provides an ideal platform for Twin IFR training, as well as personal twin-engine transport.   In addition, the company is offering a Special Mission Platform (SMP), which will be highly suitable for customs and police operations, fire management and border protection, capable of carrying top levels of surveillance equipment in its specially prepared structure.

Tecnam will also introduce the P2012 Traveller, a twin-engine, eleven-seat, Lycoming-powered commuter aircraft that will be very effective in the service of Australian requirements for rapid, economical, intermediate-range operations which have regional passenger loadings.

The P2010 will be managed by Mr Allan Bligh, who is one of Australia’s most respected aircraft sales representatives, together with his long-term associate, Mr Spencer Ferrier of Sydney. “We are really proud to commence our corporate presence in Australia with such a strong and capable sales team,” Da Costa said.  “The introduction of our heavier aircraft in the VH category will make a strong mark in Australian aviation and we look forward to serving the Australian travelling public with our well-proven, advanced design, economical fleet.”

“The future of any successful company is ‘relentless innovation’ of the product and the business plan. In the 17 years I have been associated with Tecnam Italy, this has been the culture of the company and its staff. I look forward to being part of the new team in the Australian and New Zealand," said Stark

As the late Professor Luigi Pascale, co-founder of the company with his brother, has said so often: “Designing and building aeroplanes is not just a job, it is an extension of our passion for flying.”

Tecnam has been constructing aircraft for more than 70 years, starting with its first design, the P48, in 1948.  Since then the company, based in Capua, Italy, has grown to be the world’s second-largest General Aviation aircraft manufacturer.  Its dedication to reliability, quality manufacture, innovation and ruggedness is proudly based upon its motto, “Our customers are our friends."