IATA AGM 2022 | FlightGlobal | Breaking news for airlines, aerospace and defence industry

‘Cathay is back’: Airline chief Tang strikes confident tone after tumultuous period

Few airlines have been hit harder by outside factors in the recent past than Cathay Pacific. But chief executive Augustus Tang is confident that good times will return

Korean Air cargo chief talks up airline’s cargo focus

A leap of faith more than two years ago – to focus on cargo at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic – has paid off financially for Korean Air. The airline’s cargo chief Jae Dong Eum, speaking to FlightGlobal, talks about the initial planning and the imminent challenges ahead.

Korean prepares fleet old and new for capacity step up

Korean Air’s plan to raise to capacity as Covid travel restrictions continue to ease will come as some of its grounded aircraft are returned to service and the airline prepares to introduce its second new aircraft type this year.

Turkish Airlines fast-tracks return to growth path

Turkish Airlines chairman Ahmet Bolat believes that retaining staff and its strong financial performance through the pandemic has been key to enabling to return to growth as the Istanbul carrier has already passed pre-crisis activity levels.vels.

Kenya Airways chief keeps eyes on restructuring but sees growth from 2024

Kenya Airways chief executive Allan Kilavuka sees an opportunity to return to growth in 2024, as it focuses in the near-term on implementing a restructuring aimed at securing a sustainable cost base.

Air Baltic chief calls on OEMs to resolve parts shortages that are grounding A220s

Air Baltic chief executive Martin Gauss has called on engine and aircraft manufacturers to find solutions to the supply-chain issues that are continuing to ground the carrier’s Airbus A220s for prolonged periods during maintenance.

Royal Air Maroc chief sets sights on growth after ‘transformation’ during crisis

Royal Air Maroc is preparing to issue a tender for 22 aircraft as it turns its attentions to developing a growth strategy following what chief executive Abdelhamid Addou describes as the carrier’s ’big transformation’ during the Covid crisis.

Airlines move on from Covid-19 at IATA AGM – but to where?

It felt like the airline industry was grappling with two competing narratives during the IATA AGM in Doha this week.

Emirates chief predicts ‘relief on both sides’ if 787 order parked

Emirates Airline president Tim Clark wants Boeing to concentrate on delivering the 777X programme over fulfilling the carrier’s 787 orders, as he confirmed talks are taking place with Airbus about speedier A350 deliveries.

Risks and uncertainties persist despite IATA’s brighter economic outlook

While IATA struck a positive tone in trimming its loss forecast for the coming year this week at its AGM in Doha, the wider economic headwinds which are gaining strength means downside risks far outweigh the potential for upsides.

New Pegasus chief hails tourism rebound and ‘game-changing’ A321neos

Turkish budget carrier Pegasus is on track to reach pre-Covid capacity levels for the full year amid strong demand for inbound tourism, according to the airline’s new chief executive Guliz Ozturk.

Supply chain key to meeting production rate rise: Boeing’s Deal

Boeing will only raise aircraft production rates as the supply chain can support it, amid the continued challenges being seen during the ramp-up across the wider aerospace industry.

Airports chief tells IATA to stop ‘pointing fingers’ on charges and seek reform

The head of global airports association ACI World has described IATA’s expectations on airport charges as “unrealistic”, as he reiterated calls for regulatory reform on the issue and a joint approach to tackling industry taxation.

Korean ponders move for new freighters

Korean Air is considering a move for the new widebody freighters launched by Airbus and Boeing in recent months as it continues to position itself for strong cargo demand.

ANA to resume flying PW4000-powered 777s: airline exec

All Nippon Airways is to resume operating its Pratt & Whitney PW4000-powered Boeing 777 aircraft on domestic flights soon, an airline executive confirms, as domestic demand continues to grow.

Korean Air eyes key Asiana merger approvals by year-end

Korean Air chief executive Walter Cho is hopeful of securing the necessary approvals from the US and European Union competition regulators for its merger with Asiana by the end of this year.

Defiant Walsh says airline industry can handle coming headwinds

IATA director general Willie Walsh insists the airline industry can handle the lengthy list of headwinds coming its way as the Covid-19 recovery ramps up.

Risk of ‘massive travel disruption’ if 5G deployed in USA in July 2023: IATA

Airline association IATA has warned that carriers are unlikely to be prepared for the deployment of C-band 5G in the USA in July 2023 based on current progress, creating the risk of significant travel disruption if the rollout goes ahead as planned.

Kenya Airways chief sees ‘very promising’ summer as demand picks up

Kenya Airways chief executive Allan Kilavuka sees “very promising” bookings for the summer as the carrier steps up operations out of the pandemic, though demand for intra-African travel is lagging the recovery seen on its European routes.

Break-even unlikely in 2022 amid cost pressures: Malaysia Airlines chief

Malaysia Airlines is unlikely to break even this year, as a result of “multiple headwinds” confronting the carrier, including inflation and high fuel prices.

Emirates chief rates industry challenges 9/10 but sees demand resilience

The headwinds faced by the airline industry today are “very challenging”, in the view of Emirates Airline president Tim Clark, but indications are that demand can withstand the battering for now.

Willie Walsh on the airline sector’s route to recovery and a sustainable future

A year since taking the helm at IATA, the former IAG chief is keeping the pressure on regulators and suppliers not to derail airlines’ journeys out of the depths of the pandemic and on to profitability, while supporting the industry’s move to the front foot in tackling its environmental challenges

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