South Africa’s Aviation Authority Grounds Comair’s Flight Operations Indefinitely

Wednesday, March 16, 2022 at 07:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Kulula is a wholly owned subsidiary of Comair Ltd, which also operates flights as a franchisee for British Airways. (Photo: Skytrax)

Comair Limited — a British Airways franchisee — which also operates Kulula Airlines in South Africa had its Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) suspended indefinitely. The carrier failed to adequately demonstrate to the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) that its risk and safety management systems are up to scratch.

What was supposed to be a 24-hour grounding of all Comair planes over safety issues was recently extended indefinitely — following the airline failing to address findings communicated to it by the regulator. In 30 years, South Africa has not seen a single fatal commercial airline incident and hopes to keep it that way.

According to the country’s Civil Aviation Authority and its spokesperson, Phindiwe Gwebu, it was their job to maintain the best safety interests of both passengers and airline staff.

Safety Concerns

Prior to the civil aviation investigation and report into Comair’s safety shortfall last week, several safety incidents had been reported. SACAA’s visit to Comair sought to investigate and determine the cause of a spate of occurrences affecting “a concerning number of flights operated by Kulula and British Airways Comair”.

“The SACAA sought to confirm Comair’s compliance with applicable Civil Aviation Regulations (CARs). The inspection was also aimed at reviewing Comair’s quality control management system (QC) and safety management systems (SMS) to establish compliance related to reporting, analysis and follow-up on occurrences, and corrective action plans to prevent recurrence,” the Civil Aviation Authority said.

The regulator raised three Level 1 findings, and one Level 2 finding, which according to regulatory standards, posed an immediate risk and called for operations to be shut down. This includes engine failures, flights being forced to reroute due to technical faults and others facing emergency landings after a malfunction with their landing gear.

While the regulator insists that it doesn’t issue such orders lightly, it also noted that it is committed to returning Comair planes to full service as soon as possible.

However, the commitment to safety in this case “supersedes any other need and this is to ensure that South Africa maintains its safety record of having zero fatal airline accidents in over thirty years on South African soil. The lives of our aviation personnel and the users of civil aviation services is paramount, and it is a responsibility the regulator does not take lightly.”

Meanwhile, Comair’s majority trade union, the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) said that they were not surprised at the decision to halt Comair flights.

“We are deeply concerned about workers and the safety of the public at large given these very serious occurrences,” Numsa spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola said. “We are not surprised at these unfortunate developments as we have been warning the airline from within, of the dangers of their cost cutting measures and that this would eventually have the impact of compromising safety standards, by not giving their aircraft enough ground time for proper maintenance.”

The Workers Union has called for the company’s CEO, Glenn Orsmond, to step down immediately.

“We demand that Comair focus on running the company and implementing a clear turnaround strategy. They must stop cutting salaries and benefits of the lowest paid workers in the company as this has clearly proven not be a solution. The CEO Glenn Orsmond does not have a vision to turn the organisation around and this is contributing to the crisis,” Hlubi-Majola added.

Victor Shalton

Victor Shalton's love for aviation can be traced to when he was 11-years-old. As a seasoned aviation writer, he takes pride in providing the best aviation coverage around the globe and is passionate about advancing his skills in the aviation space. In addition, he loves travelling, writing, arts and while his speaking engagements have taken him around the world, he is proud to call Nairobi home.

Malaysia Airlines Reinstates Flights to London and Australia

Pete Ainsley

Tuesday, March 15, 2022 at 09:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Benjamin Pham

A Malaysia Airlines A350. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Ben Suskind)

Malaysia Airlines recently announced that the carrier will increase its flight operations between Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to London’s Heathrow Airport after Mar. 27. The announcement came after the government’s decision of reopening its borders on Apr. 1.

In the early phase, the airline will operate 11 times weekly until Jun. 29. After Jun. 30. the airline will resume the services to pre-pandemic levels, twice daily flights to London, the first time since 2020. It is expected to provide more than 70,000 seats between the two capital cities.

“We now eagerly the opening of Malaysian borders on Apr. 1. for travelers who we know have been wanting to visit and look forward to welcoming them back on board with our signature Malaysian hospitality.” Daniel Bainbridge, Malaysia Airlines U.K. and Europe regional director said.

Flights will be operated by the airline’s Airbus A350-900 aircraft.

After two years of the pandemic. Some Asian countries start reopening its border to entice foreign travelers to stimulate their travel industries. The country’s flag carrier emphasized that it will continue to work with the Ministry of Transport, ensuring relax the travel restrictions wouldn’t put the nation at risk. In addition, the airline is looking to achieve approximately 70% of its pre-covid capacity by the end of 2022.

According to the airline, for January and February, the carrier operated about 23% of 2019’s available seat kilometers (ASK) levels for the same period. Meanwhile, Malaysia Airports — the operator of managing 39 airports in the country — has welcomed the government’s decision.

“We are looking forward to seeing good growth in our international passenger and aircraft traffic movements as this would contribute significantly to the Group’s and airport community’s business performance.” Dato’ Iskandar Mizal Mahmood, Managing Director of Malaysia Airports said.

Malaysia Airports believed that most passengers would not have traveled by air since the pandemic has begun.

Flight Resumptions to Australia

The airline is ready to take passengers back to the skies, announcing that flight between Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to Perth, Australia was reinstated after Western Australia lifted its travel restrictions. Also, the airline will increase its services to Perth, Australia by increasing frequency to five times weekly, and seven times weekly to Sydney.

Earlier, Malaysia Airlines and Qatar Airways signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Malaysia Airlines believed the agreement could provide better efficiencies and a more comprehensive network for its travelers. The pairs also agreed to maximize synergies on air cargo, operation or commercial services.

Despite the airline is seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, the aviation industry is facing another setback. The fuel price has been skyrocketing since the invasion of Ukraine. Malaysia Airlines decided that it will impose a fuel surcharge on passengers and cargo services.

“The airline is pro-actively managing its capacity to mitigate unprofitable routes due to rising fuel costs,” The airline said.

Pete Ainsley

Arajet Signs for 35 Boeing 737 MAX, Becomes First North American Operator of 8200 Variant

Parker Davis

Monday, March 14, 2022 at 05:40 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Parker Davis

A Boeing 737 MAX 9 undergoing test flights at Paine Field. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Zera)

Boeing and Dominican Republic-based Arajet announced that the Caribbean airline has ordered 20 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft and an option to purchase an additional 15 aircraft.

The order is the largest deal ever placed by a Caribbean airline and will be the first customer for the Boeing 737-8-200 in the region, the high-density version of the MAX that can accommodate up to 210 passengers.”The efficient Boeing 737 MAX, along with the financial and operational support of our partners at Griffin and Bain Capital, gives us the solid foundation needed to provide affordable flights to travelers in the region,” said Victor Pacheco Mendez, founder and CEO of Arajet, in a prepared statement.

The order was finalized in January and is currently attributed to an unidentified customer on Boeing’s order and delivery website.

“These partners believe in our vision and see the same bright future for this market and beyond,” he said. “The entire team was thrilled to see our first aircraft arrive in Santo Domingo a few days ago, and we look forward to expanding our fleet with more of these amazing jets in the coming months.”

An Arajet Boeing 737 accelerates on the runway. (Photo: Arajet)

The company recently took delivery of its first Boeing 737-8 from a five-aircraft deal with aircraft lessor Griffin Global Asset Management. As travel and tourism recovers globally, Arajet will generate approximately 4,000 new jobs and significant new economic development for the island nation. Tourism accounts for 8.4% of the Dominican Republic’s gross domestic product..

Arajet was launched this March 14, with the mission to make air travel accessible to travelers to and from the Dominican Republic, the Caribbean and North and South America.

The company will begin operations from Santo Domingo/Las Americas Airport with flights to the Caribbean islands and Central America beginning this spring. Arajet expects to add flights later this year to key North American markets with populations that have significant family ties to the Dominican Republic, including New York, Boston, Miami and Chicago.

“The 737 MAX is a perfect fit for Arajet and it is an honor to welcome this exciting new operator to the Boeing family,” said Mike Wilson, vice president of sales for Latin America and the Caribbean, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “Flying a dedicated 737 MAX fleet will allow Arajet to save on fuel, maintenance and operations costs, and pass those savings on to its customers.”

This article was written by Gastón Sena for Avacionline.

Parker Davis

Parker joined AirlineGeeks as a writer and photographer in 2016, combining his longtime love for aviation with a newfound passion for journalism. Since then, he’s worked as a Senior Writer before becoming Editor-in-Chief of the site in 2020. Originally from Dallas and an American frequent flyer, he left behind the city’s rich aviation history to attend college in North Carolina, where he’s studying economics.

Struggling Luke Air Hires A Chief Restructuring Officer As It Looks to Climb Out of Debt

Vincenzo Claudio Piscopo

Sunday, March 13, 2022 at 06:05 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Parker Davis

A Luke AIr Airbus A330 nears the runway. (Photo: Alessio Zausio | Milano Spotting)

Luke Air is the commercial brand of Blue Panorama Airlines S.p.A., an Italian charter airline, founded in Rome in 1998. Under the Blu-express brand, it also operates medium- and short-haul low-cost flights. Since December 2017, it has been controlled by entrepreneur Luca Patanè’s UVET Group, which in 2020 acquired the economic part of Neos Air.

Two years ago, Blue Panorama Airlines rebranded itself as Luke Air, and last June, at Milan’s Malpensa Airport, the carrier received its first repainted aircraft, an Airbus A330-200 for long-haul routes.

In October 2020, the UVET Group for the Blue Panorama airline received a state contribution as a non-refundable compensation fund of 45 million euros ($49 million), as did other Italian carriers, such as Air Dolomiti and Neos. Despite this, Luke Air suspended commercial operations as of October 27, 2021, due to financial reasons caused by the crisis in the sector resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic.

The carrier has proceeded to suspend its Air Operator Certificate (AOC) due to its financial situation, but the airline has in recent months given indications that a better future could be on the horizon. The president of Blue Panorama Airlines S.p.A., Luca Patanè, has entrusted aeronautical engineer Valentina Quagliata with the role of Chief Restructuring Officer.

Quagliata has more than 20 years of experience in the aviation industry, and in the middle of the last decade was involved in the acquisition of 49% of Alitalia by Etihad Airways, was appointment in 2017 as vice president network Alitalia and in early 2019 she joined Air Italy with the role of senior vice president network, strategy & planning.

The goal now is to restore and relaunch the company, as the future of the 350 or so remaining workers who have not received salaries or redundancy payments for many months now is at risk. The number has halved compared to the previous 700 employees, as half have left the company following voluntary resignations.

On Wednesday, the unions sent a letter to the extraordinary commissioners, Claudio Ferrario and Salvatore Sanzo, asking for an urgent meeting to clarify the situation of payments and the use of the redundancy fund instruments. The unions have already solicited the airline in the past and the commissioners to know their initiatives but unfortunately, there has been no response yet.

The redundancy fund and the very serious delays in the integration of the Air Transport Solidarity Fund are causing unsustainable situations among all workers. The Solidarity Fund for the air transport sector and the airport system was established by decree by the Italian government in 2016 and it serves to support income and employment and professional retraining and reconversion of personnel in the air transport sector.

Vincenzo Claudio Piscopo

Vincenzo graduated in 2019 in Mechanical Engineering with an aeronautical curriculum, focusing his thesis on Human Factors in aircraft maintenance. In 2022 he pursued his master's degree in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Palermo, Italy. He combines his journalistic activities with his work as a Reliability Engineer at Zetalab.

Why Promo Codes Are A Great Way To Save Money That Can Fund Your Travels

AirlineGeeks.com Staff

Sunday, March 13, 2022 at 10:50 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Parker Davis

(Photo: Visual Stories | Micheile on Unsplash)

With both living costs and they want to travel on the rise, it’s no wonder people want to learn how to save so they are able to travel where they want on a budget. One of the best ways to save money online is using promo codes. There is usually a promo code for something you are buying, whether it be a takeaway, a new coat, or a holiday. But what are promo codes and can you benefit from them?

If you’re seeking money-saving tips, here’s what promo codes can do to help you out.

What exactly Are Internet Promotional Codes?

Online promo codes will be posted by businesses for customers to use in order to gain a percentage of their purchase or to receive free shipping. Occasionally, promo codes can be found on a social media platform, but they are frequently kept private until they are officially issued. There are even websites dedicated solely to the distribution of these codes. NetVoucherCodes.co.uk is a great example.

The goal is for the corporation to offer incentives to consumers in order to encourage them to make a purchase. The success of the promotion is determined by the number of people who save the code and use it. The greater the number of people who participate, the better off the organization will be and will you.

What Is The Best Way To Use Online Promotional Codes?

There are a variety of methods for making use of online promotional codes. The first option is to make your purchase directly from the company’s website. Once you’ve arrived, check for a text or button that says “promo code” or “input promo code” or something similar.

Enter the code when you make your purchase, and once you’ve done so, double-check to see if a discount has been applied to the total of your order. Another option is to shop from an online store that has made a deal with a company to provide clients with promotional codes for their respective products.

For instance, if you want to purchase certain video games but they are not marked down in price on their website, you may enter the name of the game into the search field and get the lowest price possible.

Click on one of the search results that appear and then scroll down to the comments area to read what others have to say. You should be able to find a few people who were given free promo codes or discounts after writing to the company and asking for them. You will also receive one in the same manner!

What Are The Advantages Of Using Online Promotional Codes?

There are numerous advantages to utilizing internet promotional codes. For starters, you will receive a portion of your transaction. In the above example, if you purchase $50 and the discount code saves you 10%, your final price will be $45. It’s money back in your pocket and who would complain about that?

When you use specific promotional coupons on select items, you will receive free shipping as a bonus. Be sure to read the terms and conditions before using any promotional codes for your purchase.

Enter “online promo codes” into Google search and you will find many ways to save money when shopping online or follow firms who offer them on social media platforms such as Facebook or Twitter to stay up to date. You will discover that the more time and effort you put into searching for these coupons and discounts, the more money you will be able to save in the end!

Is It Possible For Anyone To Take Advantage Of Promotional Codes?

The majority of internet businesses do not place restrictions on the use of their promotional codes. This implies that if you want to save money, all you have to do is seek a code or two and use them when you make your next purchase in order to save money.

However, even in that case, there are workarounds, such as using virtual locations, which fool the corporation into believing that you are purchasing from one country when you are actually shopping from another country. In addition, some services, such as Spotify Premium, may ask that you pay first before applying the promotional code; however, this type of condition does not occur very frequently in the industry.

Is it true that promo codes are becoming more and more popular every day?

A major reason why promo codes are gaining so much attention on the internet is the fact that they help customers to save money on their purchases. Until a few years ago, these kinds of coupons were not commonly seen; however, this has changed dramatically in recent years as more and more businesses have adopted them as a result of their demonstrated effectiveness in increasing sales.

In North America, there were 1.6 billion coupon users in just one year, in 2017. When you look at it, that is a significant sum of money! This demonstrates just how popular promo codes have become in recent years, which is understandable given how many people want to save money whenever they can.

Is It More Convenient To Shop Online Than To Shop Offline?

There are numerous advantages to shopping online, and there are also certain drawbacks that consumers should be aware of before engaging in this activity. One thing that cannot be denied is that a large number of individuals purchase more when they shop online, and this is due to the fact that it is so easy to become distracted while online shopping.

If you’re the type who is easily swayed or influenced by commercials or recommendations, you can find yourself spending more money than you intended to in the first place because there are so many possibilities available with a single click of the mouse.

If you wish to save money, you should adhere to the recommendations in this article. You will be able to observe for yourself how beneficial these strategies are. Most importantly, remember to take advantage of promotional codes when purchasing online! Your financial situation will almost certainly improve in no time!

AirlineGeeks.com Staff

AirlineGeeks.com was founded in February 2013 as a one-person blog in Washington D.C. Since then, we’ve grown to have 25+ active team members scattered across the globe. We are all here for the same reason: we love deep-diving into the fascinating realm of the airline industry.

China Sends Commercial Jets to Evacuate Citizens from Ukraine

Lei Yan

Saturday, March 12, 2022 at 12:10 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Jack Dawin

A China Eastern A330. China's government is easing restrictions on foreign carriers flying into the country. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Fabian Behr)

Since Friday, March 4, China began to evacuate its citizens from active war zones in Ukraine via commercial flights. As of the moment this report has been posted, a total of 7 flights has been executed from Romania and Poland to pick up Chinese nationals and their families to go to China. Chinese foreign missions are continuing their efforts to arrange more flights.

All Hands On Deck

Air China, China Southern, and China Eastern each operated two flights from Bucharest, Romania to various locations in China; Xiamen Air operated one flight from Warsaw, Poland to Hangzhou, China, and Hainan Airlines is expected to dispatch a flight to Bucharest to continue the evacuation efforts.

More flights are scheduled to neighboring countries of Ukraine to pick up evacuated Chinese Citizens. According to the Chinese Embassy in Hungary, two flights will take off from Budapest, Hungary to China. The carrier and destination of those flights are still unknown.

China is actively responding to global events that may harm its citizens. In previous cases, China has evacuated citizens from Afghanistan, Yemen, and Libya, when those nations are in active conflicts. Behind all those courageous actions, are the powerful support of Chinese Airlines and adept crews.

Convoluted Routes

To avoid using any airspace that is above the war zone, the flights into and departing from Bucharest are taking the route over Central Asia and entering China from the western province of Xinjiang. This route avoids Ukrainian and Russian airspace, with the expense of prolonging flight time.

For Xiamen Air’s flight departing from Warsaw, the flight took a sharp turn north and then crossed the Eurasia continent via Russian airspace. The possible reason for taking this route is to dodge the complicated process of applying overflight permission to all Central Asian countries since Xiamen Air does not have any previous experience in operating flights over those nations. The flight was only flown via EU, Russian, and Mongolian airspace before reaching China. Time is precious for the evacuation.

Difficult Endeavors

Airlines are investing tremendous efforts to support the operation. Airlines only used days to gather eligible crews, dispatch aircraft, and apply for permissions to their flight plans. The Covid-19 situation was also complicating the situation. Among the passengers onboard the first two evacuation flights, over 30 people were tested positive for Covid-19. More cases will likely be found as the testing results of evacuees come out.

The Perfect Choice

The Airbus A330 was the go-to choice for those flights. The “Big-Three” state-owned airlines of China, Air China, China Southern, and China Eastern, all have larger aircrafts such as Boeing 777-300ER or even Airbus A380. However, considering the supportability of Bucharest Airport, as well as the availability of the crew resource, the A330 is the optimal choice to operate those evacuation flights. Xiamen Airlines, on the other hand, flew its’ Boeing 787-9 to Warsaw, as is the airline’s only aircraft that can reach Europe from China.

As the conflict goes on between Russia and Ukraine, more people are forced to flee their homes. More countries are arranging evacuation flights, or providing support to citizens to go home via commercial flights from neighboring countries of Ukraine. While people are thankful for knowing their fellow citizens are safe, they are also praying for the war to be end soon, so that everyone can go back to normal life.

Lei Yan

Lei is from Inner Mongolia, China, and now lives in Guangzhou. He grew up in an aviation family, where his passion began. During his time at Penn State University, he studied Industrial Engineering specializing in operations research, and he graduated with an honor’s thesis on airport gate assignment optimization. Now, he is a Purchasing Manager with Procter & Gamble. In his free time, he enjoys flying, reading, and wandering around the city.

SIA To Operate 5 Boeing 777 Freighter Planes on Behalf of DHL Express

Kalai Raajan

Saturday, March 12, 2022 at 12:07 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Jack Dawin

Singapore Airlines (SIA) will begin operating five freighter aircraft on behalf of DHL Express by the end of next year, as it aims to expand its presence in the burgeoning air cargo industry. DHL Express, the world’s top international express service provider, has signed a Crew and Maintenance agreement (CM) with the airline to deploy five Boeing 777 freighters.

The initial arrangement will last for more than four years, with the possibility to extend it further. The value of the agreement is undisclosed. This arrangement represents another milestone in DHL Express’ expansion of its intercontinental air network to suit customer demand in fast-growing international express shipping markets.

The freighters will be based at Changi Airport and will serve DHL’s South Asia Hub in Singapore, sporting a dual DHL-SIA livery with DHL and SIA branding. The aircraft will be maintained by SIA, and SIA pilots will fly them on routes to the United States via North Asia.

“With the provision of five Boeing 777 freighters, we can expand our express service between the Asia-Pacific region and the Americas. We are optimistic about growth on the trans-Pacific trade routes after the pandemic subsides. We see working with Singapore Airlines as a unique opportunity to build a long-term relationship with a long-standing partner who shares our values and meets the highest quality standards,” said Travis Cobb, EVP Global Network Operations and Aviation at DHL Express.

The first agreement is for more than four years, with the possibility for an extension; the first aircraft will be delivered in July 2022, the second in October 2022, and the remaining three aircraft will be delivered throughout 2023.

Strong Partnership

Lee Lik Hsin, Executive Vice President Commercial at SIA, said: “With today’s agreement, SIA and DHL continue to expand their long-standing partnership. These new cargo aircraft will support the fast-growing e-commerce segment, as well as other key business segments that rely on DHL’s world-class express services. In addition, SIA and DHL are paving the way for further expansion of their partnership in the future. The stationing of these aircraft at Changi Airport will strengthen Singapore’s position as a major air cargo and e-commerce logistics hub and contribute to the country’s growth and development.”

SIA’s cargo division flies to more than 90 destinations in its existing network and uses the cargo hold of SIA and Scoot passenger planes in addition to its own fleet of cargo aircraft. The airline has ordered Airbus A350F freighters as part of its fleet renewal program. SIA continues to invest in the expansion of its freight capabilities due to the increasing demand, which is fueled by the growth of segments such as online retail, fresh products, and pharmaceuticals.

“This new agreement guarantees additional capacity on our critical routes out of Singapore, enabling us to keep pace with the continued growth of trade in the Asia-Pacific region,” said Ken Lee, CEO of DHL Express Asia Pacific. He believes that it will also give the firm more flexibility to add new routes and optimize aircraft utilization in response to sudden changes.

DHL Express also continues to invest in its fleet in order to keep up with the steady increase in cross-border, time-sensitive goods. In its global network of 220 nations and territories, the firm flies more than 320 of its own planes. The Boeing 777 is the world’s largest, longest-range, and most powerful twin-engine cargo airplane. This partnership will also help contribute to DHL’s sustainability goals by cutting CO2 emissions by 18% compared to aging B747-400 freighters.

An Analyst’s Take

Brendan Sobie of consultancy Sobie Aviation, an independent aviation analyst, stated that SIA has been hauling huge volumes of cargo for DHL using its own fleet of planes. As a result of this deal, SIA will be able to expand a key relationship, he noted. He also stated that since SIA already operates Boeing 777 passenger planes, it has the capability to operate Boeing 777 freighters. He believes that prior to the pandemic, they may not have bid on this work since they did not have enough spare pilots and mechanics.

“But as it will be some time before SIA gets back to full capacity, particularly with their Boeing 777 fleet, they would be incentivized to bid on this contract and provide a competitive offer,” added Mr. Sobie.

It will be interesting to witness how this SIA-DHL cooperation unfolds and where it will lead in the future, similar to DHL’s present partnership with Air Hong Kong.

Kalai Raajan

Kalai has always wanted to work in the aviation industry, having been fascinated by its inner workings since he was a child. In pursuit of his dream, he obtained a diploma in aviation management and is currently interning with a low-cost airline, under in-flight policies. In his free time, he loves to engage in recreational activities, and watch sports. In the upcoming years, Kalai intends to pursue his degree at a business school before working as an executive for a global airline around the world.

Australia’s Senate Inquiry Report into G.A. Industry to Be Released

Mike Mangano

Saturday, March 12, 2022 at 12:05 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Jack Dawin

A Qantas Airbus A330 approaches Sydney Airport with the city skyline in the background (Photo: Hisham Qadri | AirlineGeeks)

The Australian Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee are due to release its report on March 17, 2022, having been allowed an extension from the original due date of November 30, 2021. This report will conclude a multi-year inquiry into the current state of Australia’s general aviation industry.

The inquiry has given particular attention to aviation in rural, regional, and remote Australia, considering the operations, effectiveness and impact of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) as well as other similar agencies, such as the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB).

CASA and ATSB Under Scrutiny

For many years, CASA has been at the receiving end of much criticism from Australia’s aviation sector, with notable complaints toward its safety regulations as being excessive and leading to increasingly expensive costs that plague the industry. According to the Senate Committee website, the report will address the committee’s view of the effect CASA’s aviation safety framework is having on the Australian GA industry, including whether the regulations are fit for purpose, as well as the economic impacts on the sector.

The ATSB has also been receiving heavy criticism for perceived unfairness and biased outcomes. Its investigation into the South Australia June 2017 fatal accident involving a charity Angel Flight SOCATA TB-10 Tobago was labeled “demonstrably wrong” by Angel Flight CEO Marjorie Pagani after its report claimed that charity flights from the organization were up to seven times more likely to end in a fatality as compared to other private operators.

Ms. Pagani defended the charity stating “we had three experts look at this — two of Australia’s top statisticians and an analyst — all of who conclude that it is grossly, demonstrably wrong,” adding “they have counted less than half our flights in order to arrive at this statistical conclusion.”

The ATSB admitted to not interviewing any Australian pilots who have flown for Angel Flight, despite suggesting organizational pressure on pilots contributed to the accident. It relied solely on information obtained from the United States despite the differences in both regulations and operations of Angel Flight.

Australian Industry Disappointed with CASA

In Nov. 2020, a five hour public hearing on the state of Australian GA heard evidence from nine groups, including the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) Australia, which portrayed CASA as failing to keep aviation in Australia safer than countries with simpler safety systems, such as the United States and Papua New Guinea, despite the heavy and complex regulations of CASA.

Additionally, during the same hearing, it was alleged that CASA’s liaison with the industry amounted to little more than show, with Phil Hurst, CEO of the Australian Aerial Application Association (AAAA) claiming the consultation process with CASA as an “appalling window-dressing”, adding “the consultation consists of CASA telling you what they’ve decided and then you trying to talk them down off the high building.”

An interim report released on December 10, 2020, released no comment on the inquiry, stating that due to the COVID-19 pandemic “the inquiry has not progressed as far as the committee had intended. The committee, therefore, submits this letter to satisfy the committee’s commitment to reporting back to the Senate”.

It is hoped by many in the industry that the final report, if not further delayed, will finally address the perceived shortcomings of CASA and begin a process of simplifying regulations, reducing maintenance and safety-related costs, thus making it easier for aviation in Australia to grow.

Mike Mangano

Mike’s love affair with flight and mechanical objects in the sky began at an early age, fascinated by space documentaries and the vintage Flight Simulator ’95. He currently works as an instructor for UAVs and is training to receive his Private Pilot Licence with the goal of working in manned flight instruction. An avid reader of all things aviation and manned space flight, Mike stays close to developments in aerospace while reminiscing and sharing the rich history of flight with others. He loves writing, engineering and science.

Slovenia gets European Commission Approval for Additional Flight Incentives

Ian McMurtry

Saturday, March 12, 2022 at 12:01 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Jack Dawin

Adria Airways Bombardier CRJ-900 (Credit: Bene Riobo via Wikicommons)

The European Commission has officially approved the Slovenian government’s 2022 plan of providing financial incentives for additional routes to the country. Slovenia, which plans to offer seven million euros to airlines, is looking to re-establish itself in the post-pandemic aviation industry.

The limitations to the economic incentive will be that no airline receives more than €2.5 million per airline and that the money will not be accessible till June 30. The country had previously allocated €3 million Euros per year during the pandemic-laden 2020 and 2021 but finds the development lacking as the country’s annual flyers are not recovering like other parts of Europe.

In a public statement, the Slovenian Ministry of Economic Development and Technology noted the benefit for Slovenians going forward, saying, “the purpose of the tender is to maintain the existing schedule operated by international airlines, to encourage the resumption of suspended flights due to the consequences of the pandemic, and to encourage new airlines to fly to Slovenia. Lacking a national carrier, Slovenia is currently experiencing a very slow recovery”.

The country has not recovered following the collapse of flag carrier Adria Airways in 2019 when the airline declared bankruptcy and suspended all operations. The airline had operated a fleet of Airbus A319s, Bombardier CRJ-700s and CRJ-900s and Saab 2000s that allowed it to link its hub in Ljubljana with most of Europe. The airline was a member of the Star Alliance, which further expanded the carrier’s network through fellow carriers like Turkish, SAS and the Lufthansa Group family of airlines.

The only airline expected to start service to Ljubljana in the near future is Transavia, which will link the city with Paris-Orly airport on April 14, 2022, using Boeing 737s. The rest of the airlines currently servicing the Slovenian capital are a mix of legacy brands like British Airways, LOT Polish Airlines, Swiss, Lufthansa and Air France alongside low-cost competition like Wizzair and easyJet.

Most notably missing from the Slovenian capital’s list of airlines is Irish low-cost carrier RyanAir. The Boeing 737 operator has been asked time and time again to consider flying to Slovenia, but the airline has stood its ground and says that its bases in Trieste, Italy and Zagreb, Croatia cover the country enough that direct flights are not necessary. Conversations have occurred most recently in the winter of 2021, with the airline last month announcing that no deal could be reached and that Ljubljana in February and the airline would still focus on other aspects of its route network.

Since the collapse of Adria and the impact of COVID-19, Ljubljana has been a shadow of its former self. Passenger numbers fell from 1.7 million in 2019 to 288,235 in 2020 as both impacts grappled the nation’s passenger count between the two years. 2021 saw some returns with 421,934 passengers flying through over the twelve calendar months. 2022 has shown continued small gains, with a 5% increase in January traffic showing some promise. However, the airport is still well off its former days of Adria and hopes that the increased incentive will return the airport to its former self.

Ian McMurtry

Although Ian McMurtry was never originally an avgeek, he did enjoy watching US Airways aircraft across western Pennsylvania in the early 2000s. He lived along the Pennsylvania Railroad and took a liking to trains but a change of scenery in the mid-2000s saw him shift more of an interest into aviation. He would eventually express this passion by taking flying lessons in mid-Missouri and joining AirlineGeeks in 2013. Now living in Wichita, Kansas, Ian is in college majoring in aerospace engineering and minoring in business administration at Wichita State University.

Delta, Air France-KLM Express Interest in Alitalia’s Successor

John Flett

Friday, March 11, 2022 at 03:41 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Jack Dawin

An ITA Airways Airbus A320 with the new livery at Leonardo Da Vinci International Airport. (Photo: ITA Airways)

According to ReutersDelta Air Lines and Air France-KLM are reportedly working with a third-party investor to secure a majority stake in Alitalia’s successor ITA Airways. Reuters reported that according to an unnamed Italian government official the parties had presented an expression of interest to the Italian government in the form of a letter. The Italian government has been seeking an equity partner for ITA Airways since the airline launched in October 2021 after the demise of Alitalia.

A partnership between the German Lufthansa Group and Swiss-based shipping organization MSC had confirmed in January that they were undertaking due diligence of the Italian airline. Reuters has also cited an article from the Italian news outlet La Repubblica that a further expression of interest was received from ‘another international fund which is already invested in low-cost carriers’. If the numbers add up for those expressing interest the news of further potential interested parties could set the scene for a bidding war.

ITA Airways was admitted to the SkyTeam alliance almost immediately after its inception as a replacement for Alitalia. Delta, Air France and KLM are all members of SkyTeam which makes the expression of interest in ITA Airways less of a surprise. None of the airlines has made any official or direct comment on this week’s report of the expression of interest in the Italian airline. A spokesperson for Delta Air Lines has stated: “Delta has a longstanding history with the former Alitalia and has created a partnership with ITA Airways which Delta is committed to strengthening.”

Last week the chief executive officer of Lufthansa Carsten Spohr outlined to investors that the German company would not be the majority stakeholder in ITA Airways but a ‘junior partner’ to the Swiss cruise company. Given the past financial woes of the Italian airline’s predecessor Mr. Spohr appears to have sought to allay the fears of shareholders. According to Reuters he stated, “We know what we are doing in Italy, no worry. I hear my shareholders – don’t worry we know there is a legacy.”

In his address Mr. Spohr advised that it was the Italian government that paired the German airline with the Italian owners of Swiss-based MSC. “The government linked us up with MSC, and they asked us for a blind date, and we fell in love,” he said. Reuters reported that the consortium could soon be given access to ITA Airways’ financial records. According to La Repubblica access to the financial documents will be made available once the Italian government appoints a financial advisor and a legal advisor. The two candidates for these advisory roles are expected to be finalized as early as this week.

John Flett

John has always had a passion for aviation and through a career with Air New Zealand has gained a strong understanding of aviation operations and the strategic nature of the industry. During his career with the airline, John held multiple leadership roles and was involved in projects such as the introduction of both the 777-200 and -300 type aircraft and the development of the IFE for the 777-300. He was also part of a small team who created and published the internal communications magazines for Air New Zealand’s pilots, cabin crew and ground staff balancing a mix of corporate and social content. John is educated to postgraduate level achieving a masters degree with Distinction in Airline and Airport Management. John has held the positions of course director of an undergraduate commercial pilot training programme at a leading London university. In addition he is contracted as an external instructor for IATA (International Air Transport Association) and has been a member of the Heathrow Community Fund’s ‘Communities for Tomorrow’ panel.