Tag Archives: September 2024

The International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) second World Sustainability Symposium (WSS) will focus on actions needed to achieve the airline industry’s commitment to net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050. The event will take place in Miami, USA on 24-25 September 2024, hosted by American Airlines. “Sustainability is an existential challenge for humanity as it is for our airline industry. Achieving net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050 is a big and complex task. But working together with the broader aviation industry, and with the support of governments, we will get there. WSS is a unique opportunity to bring all stakeholders together to learn, align and take the critical actions needed to galvanize our determination and accelerate progress,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General. Key elements to help achieve net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050 being addressed at the WSS include: Decarbonization: Focusing on aviation’s transition to net-zero CO2 emissions, including how to develop, scale, and deliver the solutions necessary to decarbonize aviation over the 25 years to 2050. Discussions will address how to build the markets for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), carbon removals, and other nascent technologies, and the challenges involved in financing such projects. Innovation and Technology: Exploring new aircraft technologies and operational innovations with a focus on the practical aspects of implementing new technologies rapidly to advance the industry’s net-zero CO2 emissions goal. Policy and Regulation: Examining the global policy landscape aimed at achieving net-zero CO2 emissions, particularly related to SAF, and the complexities of aligning global regulations and harmonizing SAF policies to scale up production and deployment. Finance and Transparency: Looking at investment challenges; what are the difficulties and opportunities in financing renewable energy projects and SAF production, and how to …

The European Commission outlined guidelines for cabin luggage, effective 1 September 2024, allowance of one cabin bag and one personal item will be allowed. Cabin bag dimensions (including handles and wheels) must not exceed 55 x 40 x 20cm, while personal items should be no larger than 40 x 30 x 15cm. The personal item, such as a handbag, backpack, or laptop bag, must fit under the seat in front of the passenger. Effective from 1 September 2024, the maximum allowed size for individual liquid containers will revert to the standard 100 ml for airports. Airports that already limit liquids to 100 ml or that have not deployed EDSCB equipment will not be affected by this change. This precautionary measure is not in response to any new threat but addresses a temporary technical issue, undertaken in alignment with the EU’s international partners. The Commission is collaborating closely with Member States and the European Civil Aviation Conference to develop swift technical solutions, ensuring the highest standards of safety and security in air travel.  

Emirates will launch flights to Madagascar from 3 September 2024, offering more choice and connectivity for travellers, and driving inbound leisure and business travel to the country. The four-weekly flights between Dubai (DXB) and Antananarivo (TNR), will operate via a linked service with the Seychelles. Boosting international travel to and from Madagascar, the flight times have been scheduled to optimise connections to and from key points in Europe, the Far East, West Asia and the Middle East/GCC. EK707 will depart from Dubai to the Seychelles at 0855hrs, arriving in Mahe at 1335hrs*, and will continue on to Antananarivo to land at 1650hrs. The return flight EK708 departs Antananarivo at 1835hrs, landing in Mahe at 2220hrs. The flight then takes off from Mahe at 2350hrs to Dubai, landing at 0420hrs the next day. Flights will operate on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. Travellers wanting to combine two holidays in one also have the option to conveniently fly between the Seychelles and Madagascar in style and comfort. Tourism is a key pillar in Madagascar’s economy, contributing to the creation of thousands of employment opportunities that support the country’s goal to serve one million tourists by 2028. Emirates’ new route will provide connectivity from over 140 points in its global network, supporting the Ministry of Tourism’s strategy to diversify target markets and introduce international travellers to the island’s many natural attractions. Emirates is also in discussion with Air Madagascar to offer further global connectivity to promote tourism and trade. Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer said, “Madagascar has historically been underserved, despite growing appetite from travellers for authentic ecotourism experiences. Emirates understands the importance of offering customers efficient connectivity and premium …

As of September 2024, flynas to become the only KSA airline serving the major 4 airports in the UAE. flynas announced a massive expansion plan in the UAE  adding Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) in Dubai to its network operated from flynas’ main bases in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, and Madinah. The routes operated between the two countries will be increased from 4 routes currently to 9 routes, allowing for an exceptional expansion to more than 20 daily flights. Bander Almohanna, Managing Director and CEO of flynas, said: “We are delighted to enhance air connectivity between KSA and UAE, which reflects flynas’ commitment to move further in its growth and expansion plan under the slogan (We Connect The World With the Kingdom), offering new routes to the visitors between the two countries”. Almohanna added: “We take advantage of our operational excellence and doubling our fleet size in less than two years to keep up our remarkable growth to best cater to the growing low-cost travel market in the region, in line with our growth and expansion plans, and in parallel with the National Civil Aviation Strategy to enable national air carriers to contribute to connecting KSA with 250 International destinations and to accommodate 330 million passengers and to host 100 million tourists yearly by 2030 and the objectives of the Pilgrims Experience Program (PEP) to facilitate access to the Two Holy Mosques”. With the latest expansion, the UAE market will be served with flights from the four flynas operation bases around the Kingdom. Operating flights currently to Dubai International Airport from Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Madinah, the leading LCC will add flights to Al Maktoum International Airport …