Air Travel numbers to double by 2036

Radio New Zealand’s Transport, Energy and Resource Infrastructure Reporter Eric Frykberg reported that an expected 7.8 billion passengers will be taken on flights by airlines by 2036.

The figures on the report released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) includes some people travelling multiple times.

IATA forecasts almost doubled the current number of passenger journeys today of 4 billion. They were based on average growth of 3.6 percent per annum for 20 years, compounded.

The report says the biggest driver of demand would be the Asia-Pacific region, accounting for more than half the growth, with China displacing the United States as the world's largest aviation market in around 2022.

But IATA added a caveat, saying if trade protection policies and travel restrictions developed, they could shave 1.1bn off the 2036 figure. But if trade liberalisation increased, then passenger numbers could triple, not double.

Either way, the report says the growth would strain the ability of airports, access roads and passenger and freight handling systems to cope. The trend is also expected to put pressure on the industry to mitigate climate changing emissions.

Both IATA and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) have pledged to level aviation emissions from 2020, which New Zealand also agreed to comply with.

Read the full Radio New Zealand story > 

Unions welcome rejection of low-wage economy

E tū Aviation released a statement welcoming the new Government’s rejection of a low-wage economy.

E tū Aviation has welcomed the new Prime Minister’s call for productive relationships between business and workers, and an end to low pay and its negative economic effects.

In her speech to the Council of Trade Unions on 25 October, Jacinda Ardern praised the High Performance Engagement agreement which E tū and other unions – including NZALPA – have with Air New Zealand.

“That agreement means business and unions sit down together and help each other with their problems and the results speak for themselves,” says E tū’s Head of Aviation, Kelvin Ellis.

NZALPA representatives have been instrumental in the introduction of a High Performance Engagement agreement with Air New Zealand.

Read the full statement > 

Hundreds of new airport jobs promised from Virgin Australia deal but union worried

New Zealand Herald Aviation, Tourism and Energy Writer Grant Bradley, reported that Queensland-based ground handling firm Aerocare said it will create hundreds of jobs from a Virgin Australia contract in New Zealand but a union warns that workers' rights are threatened.

Aerocare won the Virgin contract off Air New Zealand for the ground handling work and says it will support about 5000 Virgin Australia flights per year from Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington, Queenstown and Dunedin to six international destinations.

Chief executive Glenn Rutherford said the company would create up to 220 new jobs in New Zealand, invest more than $1 million in training and skills development and spend $5m on specialist aircraft handling equipment.

But the E tū union questions the number of jobs created.

"First, we would challenge Aerocare's claim that it is creating up to 220 jobs as a result of securing the Virgin Australia contract. Until now the work has been done by Air New Zealand ground staff, so there are no new jobs as such," said Savage, the union's aviation lead organiser.

He said the union estimated the Virgin Australia contract involved about 90 to 100 full time equivalents, but the number quoted by Aerocare reflected the company's labour practices, which included a reliance on part-time, casual staff with minimum entitlements.

Read the full New Zealand Herald story > 

Air New Zealand phasing in new screening as part of security crackdown by US

The New Zealand Herald reported that Air New Zealand is phasing in extra screening for passengers flying to the United States as part of new security measures the US is demanding from airlines around the world.

All flights to the US are subject to new security screening procedures before take-off, including American citizens and foreigners possibly facing security interviews from airline employees, the US government said yesterday.

An Air New Zealand spokeswoman said the extra checks had been introduced in tranches over several months and more would be introduced next year.

New measures introduced in July included an additional passport and boarding pass check and random passenger screening for US-bound customers before they are able to enter the boarding gate area.

Read the full New Zealand Herald story > 

Air New Zealand deploys cargo tracking devices

Air New Zealand has received global media interest recently with rolling out Bluetooth tracking devices across its cargo network. The carrier predicts this will make it easier to track and analyse shipment movements, reported Air Transport World 

The airline is installing about 5,500 Bluetooth tags on cargo containers, pallets and unit load devices, and is introducing more than 100 readers at 29 airports internationally. Air New Zealand is working with Core Transport Technologies on the system. “We believe this to be the first time this type of technology has been deployed at this large scale anywhere in the world,” Core managing director Ian Craig said.

Air New Zealand is making substantial progress on deployment, and aims to complete it before Christmas, an airline spokeswoman said. The tracking system is operating, with the airline monitoring the equipment that has been tagged.

The technology is only being used for internal purposes so far, although it could be made available to customers to help track their shipments.

Read the Air Transport World story > 

Airport builds base for Massey aviation training

Stuff reporter Janine Rankin reported that the development of the Ruapehu Business Park at Palmerston North Airport has taken off, with work starting on a new aviation training centre.

The airport company is investing $5 million in the modern training facility on Airport Drive for Massey University’s School of Aviation.