New No-fly List for Unruly Airline Passengers, Airbus A320 was 2022's Most-used Aircraft, and More
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Unruly Airline Passengers Face Potential New No-fly List Under Proposed Legislation
US lawmakers have introduced new legislation that proposes the creation of a separate no-fly list for unruly passengers, a move that airline unions have supported.
The proposed legislation would enable the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to ban those convicted or fined for assaulting or interfering with airline crew members.
The new list would be distinct from the current no-fly list, which the FBI manages to prevent those suspected of terrorism from boarding planes. Civil libertarians have pledged to resist the legislation, claiming that the existing no-fly list targets people of color and is non-transparent. Read more
Airbus A320 was 2022's Most-used Aircraft
The Airbus A320 was the most-used aircraft worldwide in terms of Available Seat Kilometers (ASKs) in 2022, according to data from OAG. The ASK metric reflects an airline's capacity by multiplying the number of seats on the flight by the distance flown in kilometers.
EasyJet was the largest operator of the A320, producing 38 billion ASKs, and London Luton to Tel Aviv was the route with the most ASKs.
The analysis shows a shift in the aviation industry towards single-aisle aircraft since 2008. In 1997, widebody aircraft were the highest producer of ASKs, with the Boeing 747-400 at the top. Read more
Middle East Airports to Handle 1.1 Billion Passengers by 2040
According to the Airport Council International, Middle East airports are predicted to handle 1.1 billion passengers by 2040, more than double the figure recorded in 2019. To accommodate this influx, airports in the region will need to invest $151bn in capacity expansion.
The Middle East is already considered one of the fastest-growing aviation markets globally, with over 110 airports. Construction projects are already underway in the UAE, Kuwait, Oman and Saudi Arabia, with plans to develop the world's largest airport in Riyadh. Read more
China Southern Airlines Plans to Add 103 Boeing 737s and 111 Airbus A320s to Fleet
China Southern Airlines, the largest airline in China by fleet size, plans to take delivery of more than 200 single-aisle jets from Boeing and Airbus over the next three years, according to its recently released aircraft delivery and disposal plan.
This includes an additional 103 Boeing 737 aircraft and 111 Airbus A320 series jets, with 46 A320s set to be added in 2025 alone.
This expansion is part of China's increasing demand for air travel, with the carrier expected to operate a total of 1,059 jets by the end of 2025, including 431 Airbus A320-series and 451 Boeing 737-series jets. Read more
Strong Domestic Travel Demand Boosts American Airlines Group's Earnings and Revenue
S&P Global Ratings has revised American Airlines Group Inc.'s outlook to positive, citing the company's strengthened credit profile and strong demand for domestic passenger travel, which generated higher earnings and cash flow in 2022.
The company's available seat miles were up more than 20% YoY and are approaching pre-pandemic levels, while the company's domestic operations remain the largest share of revenue at almost 75%.
S&P Global forecasts that real consumer spending will remain positive in 2023, albeit well below 2022 levels, and the potential for hybrid work presents greater flexibility to travel. However, looming debt maturities and a softening U.S. economy limit upside to the outlook. Read more
Experts Warn of Severe Consequences of Space Debris Impact on Aircraft
The increasing number of satellites in orbit and the doubling of air traffic since the millennium have led to a growing risk of uncontrolled rocket re-entries posing a threat to aircraft.
Although the probability of an airplane being struck by space debris is extremely small, it only takes 300 grams of space debris to cause severe damage to the critical surfaces of an aircraft.
Aviation bodies are taking notice, and the International Civil Aviation Organization and the Air Line Pilots Association have released recommendations calling on states to establish requirements to avoid uncontrolled re-entries of space objects. The US, as the world's largest aviation regulator, is perfectly positioned to spur international change. Read more
SITA to Exit Cabin Inflight Connectivity Business by January 2025
SITA, a global air transport communications and IT company, has confirmed its exit from the cabin inflight connectivity (IFC) business, with a final service exit date of 31 January 2025.
SITA has a long history in the sector and counts airlines like Emirates and Singapore Airlines as customers for its Inmarsat-powered services.
The move comes as the commercial IFC landscape consolidates and rapidly evolves, with several vertically integrated satellite operators directly responding to airline RFPs and serving as aero ISPs.
SITA will focus on other prime business areas, such as digital applications for operational efficiency and supporting more sustainable aircraft operations. Read more
Congress Investigates Impact of Airlines Cutting Services to Small Airports
United Airlines is cutting flights to two small airports, Springfield, Illinois and Erie, Pennsylvania, prompting members of Congress to examine the impact of airlines pulling out of small locations.
United currently runs two flights between Chicago and Erie, but the end of those services means Erie will have only two inbound and two outbound flights per day. The move follows Delta's decision to stop flying in and out of Erie in July 2020.
Experts are warning that the reduction of flights out of small airports could hamper local economic development and reduce competition, potentially driving up prices. Read more
IoT and AI Solutions Poised to Reduce Flight Delays in Aviation Industry
The increasing use of IoT devices and smart sensors in the aircraft and aviation industry can potentially reduce flight delays by enabling more proactive maintenance.
By leveraging the data generated by these sensors, airlines can make more insightful maintenance decisions and schedule maintenance during off hours, thus reducing the need to pull aircraft out of service at a later date when systems or parts ultimately fail.
Predictive solutions that use AI and machine learning to predict the time an aircraft will arrive at the gate and on the runway can also help airlines make better decisions around the utilization of aircraft, personnel, and space, thereby reducing operational inefficiencies that can snowball into larger delays.
To make the most of its data, airlines need to identify and execute a data lake or data warehouse strategy, which can be challenging and require the help of technology partners that understand the commercial aviation industry. Read more
BAE Systems to Collaborate with Heart Aerospace in Developing Battery System for Regional Electric Airplane
BAE Systems announced its partnership with Heart Aerospace, a Swedish company, to develop a battery system for Heart's regional electric aircraft, the ES-30.
The ES-30 will have four electric motors and an electric range of 200 kilometers, an extended reserve hybrid range of 400 kilometers with 30 passengers, and the capacity to fly up to 800 kilometers with 25 passengers.
Heart Aerospace has received 230 orders and 100 options for the ES-30, along with a letter of intent for 108 additional aircraft. Read more
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