LATEST ISSUE
Autumn 2020
If you are anything like me, you are probably wondering exactly where we are now in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic.
Many countries across the world are still handling their initial outbreaks while those that seemed to have overcome the worst of it and have begun opening up, are now dealing with emerging spikes and are again reintroducing lockdowns of varying severity.
While such uncertainty remains, this makes it very hard for the aviation sector not only to recommence operations and services, but also to plan for the future in any concrete fashion.
Considerable differences remain between countries, as can be seen on page 16, where some of the world’s largest aviation bodies have combined forces to urge African governments to do the same in order to assist the region’s aviation sector.
Similarly, in Europe the continent’s LCCs continue to pay the price of conflicting legislation introduced by various countries (page 8). Of course, this is having a knock-on effect on every part of the aviation industry, with Swissport’s current sorrows laid bare on page 40.
But that is not to say all is doom and gloom. Istanbul Airport has used the downtime to reshape its strategy and is adopting new practices as it reopens, as our interview with CEO Kadri Samsunlu reveals on page 20.
Finnair is also being increasingly nimble in its reintroduction of services as pent-up demand is proving stronger than expected. Vice president global sales Mikko Turtiainen exclusively explains to ARGS what is going on behind the scenes on page 4.
Elsewhere, work continues apace to deal with the evolving pandemic and its ongoing impact as stories on Transom (page 44), Menzies Aviation (page 34) and the Airline Catering Association (page 46) all reveal.
Similarly, avenues to successfully growing business are being considered as analysis by Alton Aviation Consultancy on travel bubbles (page 12) and ICF on the fifth freedom (page 26) show.
In short, there are still no easy answers currently but we must hope that the hard work, innovation and customer focus that all parts of the industry display will lead to its continued survival.
Take A Peek
Featured in this issue
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Route Development
Africa unite
Written By Edward Robertson
Three of the world’s biggest aviation bodies have called upon Africa’s governments to put aside their differences and work together as the sector struggles to recover It was in mid-June when th...
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Technology
Boeing, Boeing gone
Written By Edward Robertson
British Airways’ recent decision to permanently ground its fleet of Boeing 747-400s is one more nail in the coffin for the former Queen of the Skies While the news might have been long expected, ...
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Catering for a crisis
The Airline Catering Association has released new guidelines for the safe preparation of food in a bid to reassure would-be flyers that the skies are safe again New guidelines released by the Airli...
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Continental lift?
European low-cost carriers have seen strong demand as flights resume. But will the sector stay strong in the event of an upswing of Covid-19 cases? In 2019, Europe’s three largest LCCs, Ryanair, ...
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Ground Handlers
Emerging stronger
Written By Edward Robertson
The Transom Group has created a nine-point plan to ensure it is in a stronger position than previously when aircraft return to the skies Like the rest of the world, Oman’s airports have been hard...
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ICF
Finding freedoms
ICF manager Nishaan Rama and analyst Dhruva Kemp argue that airlines prepared to use fifth-freedom agreements as they reconsider their networks in the wake of Covid-19 may well find they have a strong...
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Menzies begins its Covid-19 recovery
The global aviation services operator has reported some good news as aviation services tentatively resume around the world, Edward Robertson reports John Menzies has been shrugging off some of the ...
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Airlines
Recovering from Covid-19
Alton Aviation Consultancy joint managing director Adam Cowburn argues travel bubbles could drive aviation’s resurgence, while his counterpart Jonathan Berger believes the maintenance and repair mar...
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Routes revival
As Finnair’s long-haul aircraft return to the skies, the airline is keen to continue focusing on its Asian strategy There was a time, just a few months ago, when the reintroduction of a well-esta...
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Airports
Stepping up to the challenge
Written By Edward Robertson
Istanbul Airport was forced to close just a year after opening by Covid-19. Now that it is open again, CEO Kadri Samsunlu is working hard to regain the lost business As Istanbul Airport completed p...
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Ground Handlers
Weathering the storm
Written By Edward Robertson
Swissport has its work cut out as, like the rest of the aviation industry, its business is severely impacted in the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. For such a tiny virus, Covid-19’s impact on the worl...
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