p32 Air feb6 3/2/09 17:41 Page 32
Air
Chris Gray
020 7921 8003
cgray@ttglive.com
For the latest news about flights, airlines and airports, visit ttglive.com/air
In brief
APD is aviation’s
■ Iceland Express to run Gatwick workshop
Iceland Express is to host a workshop for agents in
the south-east to promote the country in advance
of its new Gatwick service starting in May. Agents ‘worst nightmare’
will also be able to win a place on a fam trip at the
event on February 16 at the Sofitel at Gatwick’s “We see cash grabs painted green with
Chris Gray.
North Terminal. To take part, call Vikki Joyce IATA’s Giovanni Bisignani has described the UK the environment brand. The UK is our worst
on 0870 608 0757 or get in touch by email at government’s aviation tax as the industry’s nightmare. The £2 billion Air Passenger Duty
icelandexpress@flightdirectors.com “worst nightmare”. more than covers the UK’s aviation emissions.
The director-general was speaking as Iata The government’s decision in November for
■ Thomson carriers were 2008’s most punctual forecast a 3% drop in global passenger numbers further increases will make matters worse.”
The combined performance of Thomsonfly this year, leading to an estimated industry-wide Speaking at a British Air Transport Association
and First Choice Airways made them the most loss of $2.5 billion. dinner, he said political leaders in the UK were
punctual charter airline last summer. However, Even that loss did not “fully describe the pain letting the industry down, adding: “You have a
the two airlines, now merged into Thomson the industry is facing” said Bisignani, who great history, great airlines, fantastic market
Airways, came top of the list in a year when charter warned that European losses this year would potential and one of the world’s most important
airlines overall recorded their worst punctuality increase tenfold to $1 billion. airports with a new leading-edge terminal.
for seven years. XL Airways, which went bust in Bisignani condemned the UK government’s “But draconian taxation policies, poor
September, came second, followed by Thomas policy on Air Passenger Duty which he said was regulation and antiquated rules of the game are
Cook Airlines, with Monarch Airlines placed doing nothing to help the environment, unlike killing this industry.
last. The flightontime analysis found Thomas the aviation industry, which was putting money “And in 2012, when aviation is scheduled to
Cook Airlines’ average delay was 35 minutes. into testing biofuels. join the European emissions trading scheme, we
“It is crazy and it is time to stop. If the chancel- will pay for emissions another time.”
ttglive.com
For the very latest cruise news,
lor needs to fund his banking investments,
visit ttglive.com/cruise
it should not be on the backs of air travellers. ■ Join APD campaign at travelgivesback.co.uk
Japan Airlines
trials biofuels
JAPAN Airlines has carried out a demonstration
flight using a mix of conventional fuel and three
biofuels.
A Boeing 747-300 made an hour-and-a-half
flight from Haneda airport in Tokyo using biofuel
made mainly from camelina but also using
jatropha and algae.
Last month, Air Zealand carried out a biofuel
test flight, which it claimed had been a success.
Japan Airlines is the first flight to use a mix of
three fuels and the first to use a Pratt & Whitney
engine. The biofuel was used in one of the
aircraft’s four engines.
Data from the flight will be analysed to see if
the engine performed as well as the other engines.
Paul Steele, executive director of the Air Trans- PARTY TIME: Qatar Airways held a party at Manchester’s Hard Rock Cafe last week
port Action Group, said the trial was important to thank agents for their ongoing support. From left: Stella Woods, Rinku Kochhar,
because it demonstrated the industry did not Joseph Faherty, Zahid Shaikh, Andy Barlow, Jade Hopkins and Manie Seehra, all Skylord
have to rely on one source for biofuels. Travel, with Jane Hoyes (front) and Rachel Finn (far right), both Qatar Airways.
32 06.02.2009
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