Mar 07 -  Christchurch Airport is reporting an increased interim result, alongside record passenger numbers.

Feb 27, 2018  -  Beijing Capital International Airport retained its status as the second busiest airport on the planet in 2017, handling 95.8 million passengers – just 8.1 million less than world No.1, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta.

Feb 23 -  Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) has introduced two new security checkpoint technologies at Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT) in partnership with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to enhance security while improving the screening process for travellers.

The first pilot project being launched at the airport uses facial recognition technology to automate the identification and boarding pass verification process. Travellers who are ticketed on an international flight can choose whether to use the biometric recognition system to verify their identity.

After a traveller scans their boarding pass and passport, a camera activates and takes a photo of the passenger to verify that the name on the boarding pass and the photo taken by the camera match with the passenger’s travel documents. During the pilot programme, all travellers will have their boarding and identity documents manually verified by a TSA officer.

The second pilot project features an enhanced advanced imaging technology (AIT) unit with increased detection capabilities. The enhanced AIT does not require travellers to raise their hands over their head during the scan. In addition, it also provides corrective feedback to the TSA officer, alerting the officer if a passenger is improperly positioned in the unit. The capability may allow passengers to adjust their stance and be rescanned, which could reduce the need for further security checks.

“TSA’s strong partnership with Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) has allowed the agency to pilot emerging technologies and evaluate their performance in real-time in a busy security checkpoint environment,” said Steve Karoly, Assistant Administrator – Acting, Office of Requirements and Capabilities Analysis at TSA. “We look forward to continuing this relationship to identify ways to increase the security effectiveness and efficiency of the passenger experience.”

Justin Erbacci, Chief Innovation and Commercial Strategy Officer, Los Angeles World Airports, also added: “Our selection as a TSA Innovation Task Force site gives LAWA the opportunity to see how these new products could help improve the guest experience at LAX. We are excited about the way these technologies can help smooth the journey for passengers using LAX, while enhancing security at the same time.”

Additionally, another technology that was tested and later installed at LAX is the automated screening lanes (ASLs). ASLs have several features designed to improve the screening of travellers’ carry-on baggage by automating many of those functions previously conducted manually.

Travellers are able to move more freely through the checkpoint thanks to side-by-side divesting areas where several passengers can place their items in bins simultaneously. Automated conveyor belts move the bins into the X-ray machine tunnel and return the bins to the front of the security checkpoint. The system features automatic diversion of any carry-on bag that may contain a prohibited item.

ASLs also feature bins that are 25% lighter than a typical bin and are able to hold a carry-on bag. Unique Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags are attached to each bin, allowing for additional accountability of a traveller’s carry-on bag as they move throughout the security screening process. The airport recently completed installation of four additional ASLs at TBIT, bringing the total number to 10 in the terminal’s security checkpoint.

TSA continues to collaborate with vendors, airlines, airports, and across the counter-terrorism community to roll out additional technologies. TSA’s long term goal is to incorporate enhanced capabilities at checkpoint lanes throughout the country.

Source:  FutureTravelExperience   ||  February 23, 2018   |||

Feb 22, 2018  -  Air New Zealand has today announced it will start operating non-stop flights between Auckland and Taipei from November 2018.  The airline will fly up to five times a week between Auckland and Taipei’s Taoyuan International Airport from November, with NZ77 departing Auckland at 10:35am and arriving in Taipei at 4:50pm local time. NZ78 will depart Taipei at 6:30pm local time, arriving in Auckland at 10:20am+1.

Feb 22, 2018  -  Air New Zealand today announced earnings before taxation for the first six months of the 2018 financial year of $323 million, compared to $349 million in the prior period. Net profit after taxation was $232 million.

Feb 21, 2018  -  For the first time in Rafic Al Hariri International Airport’s history, Emirates will operate a special one-off A380 test service to Beirut on March 29.   The airline’s flagship double-decker will become the first-ever scheduled A380 service to Beirut, and Emirates is working with the airport to test the operations and necessary infrastructure to accommodate an A380 service.

 Feb 21, 2018  -  Emirates will resume a second daily service between Dubai and Portugal’s capital, Lisbon, from June 1, in the process providing direct connections with Emirates’ daily New Zealand services in both directions.

The flight will be operated by an Emirates Boeing 777-300ER in a three class cabin configuration, with eight private suites in First Class, 42 seats in Business Class, and 310 spacious seats in Economy Class.

Portugal boasts a warm temperate climate and a long coastline of beaches, scenic villages and a rich culture and history, attracting visitors from all over the world. According to Turismo de Portugal, a record 21 million people visited the country in 2017, an increase of 10 percent when compared to the previous year, while Lisbon recorded a 16 percent increase.

“Portugal is experiencing an upturn in its economy and strong tourism growth. The second daily service between Dubai and Lisbon will therefore meet growing demand for seats on the route, as well as offer our customers in Portugal and from across Emirates’ worldwide network more choice and flexibility when planning their travel,” said Hubert Frach, Emirates Divisional Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations, West.

More connectivity

The second flight, EK193, will depart Dubai at 1425hrs and arrive in Lisbon at 1940hrs, while the return flight EK194, will leave Lisbon at 2115hrs and land in Dubai at 0805 the next morning. Emirates’ current flight, EK191, departs Dubai at 0725hrs and arrives in Lisbon at 1235pm. The return flight EK192, departs Lisbon at 1415pm and arrives back in Dubai 0110pm.

Named the Best Airline in the World by TripAdvisor in 2017, customers can look forward to the highest levels of care and comfort, from the warm hospitality of Emirates’ multinational cabin crew, including Portuguese nationals, to being entertained by ice, which offers up to 3000 channels of on demand audio and visual entertainment from the latest movies, music and games. Customers also enjoy chef prepared meals and complimentary beverages, while families are also well catered for with dedicated products and services for children.

| A Emirates release  ||  February 21, 2018   |||

Feb 20, 2018 :  1132:  - The airline has cancelled all services into and out of Wellington from 2.45pm today through until midnight. This may have a flow on effect to other services.

Feb 15, 2018  -  Qantas is among investors backing a new system under development by a US travel technology company that aims to end airline overbooking and eliminate the embarrassing fiascos in which passengers are ordered off overbooked flights.

Many airlines routinely overbook flights because a small number of passengers don’t show up and the carriers want to fill as many seats as possible before takeoff.

The new system, called Yana, is designed to consign airline overbooking to history. Yana should allow airlines to work out which passengers are most likely to be flexible about their flights and happy to switch to later departures in return for incentives such as travel vouchers, frequent flyer points or an upgrade.

Airlines can then contact these passengers in the days before the flight and make them an offer. This should avoid dreadful showdowns at boarding gates, which have seen paid and booked passengers denied boarding, to scenes of angst and grief. Even worse, there have been instances of passengers evicted from, or dragged off, US domestic flights – providing shockingly bad publicity for airlines.

The tech developer behind Yana, Atlanta-based Volantio, says it has arranged a USD 2.6 million funding round “led by Ingleside Investors and strategic investors International Airlines Group (IAG), JetBlue Technology Ventures, and Qantas Ventures”.

Qantas Group executive, strategy, innovation and technology, Rob Marcolina, said: “The travel industry and customer needs continue to evolve and investments in innovations like Volantio are important to ensure we keep exploring ideas, disrupting the status quo and discovering new ways of working to deliver better outcomes for our business and our customers. As a participant in Qantas Ventures’ first AVRO Accelerator program, Volantio is a great example of the impact that investment in scale-ups can make.”

Volantio’s chief executive, Azim Barodawala said Volantio was “extremely proud that the investment arms of three key global aviation leaders, spanning three distinct geographies, have chosen to back Volantio and its market leading technology.

“Our platform provides a rare triple-win,” Barodawala added. “Flexible passengers receive a benefit for changing their travel plans, last-minute travellers are able to access flights that otherwise would have been full, and airlines can better maximise network capacity and unit revenue, while putting greater predictability and control back in the hands of their customers.”

IAG is the parent of British Airways, Iberia and Vueling. Ingleside Investors represents the interests of the New York-based Israel family. The JetBlue input is from JetBlue Technology Ventures, which “invests in, incubates and partners with early stage startups at the intersection of technology, travel and hospitality to improve the entire travel experience”.

A Volantio media statement described Qantas Ventures thus:

Qantas Ventures was established in January 2017 as the venture capital arm of Qantas Airways Limited (“Qantas”). Qantas Ventures invests in and partners with early and growth stage technology companies that have the capability to revolutionize our customers’ journeys, transform our operations and disrupt the financial services, wellness, data and marketing sectors. Qantas Ventures looks to support the best local and international entrepreneurs who can leverage the Qantas Group’s global footprint, expertise and unique assets to scale within Australia and globally. AVRO Accelerator is one sourcing channel for Qantas Ventures, find out more at qantas.com/avro.

Source: GlobalTravelMedia Written by Peter Needham  ||  February 15, 2018   |||

Feb 13, 2018  - Another month, another record at Christchurch Airport.  Figures just in show the record set in December 2017, for busiest month on record, was beaten in January.