Aviation

Airbus’ new Global Market Forecast is projecting that close to 37,390 new aircraft valued at US$5.8 trillion will be required between 2018 and 2037 to meet the increasing demand in air travel.

The projection is based on the world’s passenger fleet which is expected to more than double to 48,000 aircraft in 20 years with traffic growing at a resilient 4.4 per cent per year, driving a need for 37,390 new passenger and freighter aircraft.

Growth drivers include private consumption increasing 2.4 times in emerging economies, higher disposable incomes and a near doubling of the middle classes globally.

Emerging countries will account for over 60 per cent of economic growth, with trips per capita to multiply 2.5 times for these countries across the world.

Combined with evolving airline business models and continuing liberalisation, the growing scale of air transportation will lead to an increasing resilience to regional slowdowns.

THE Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) plans to issue new customer protection directives to regulate the activities of airline operators and their customers.

THE Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) plans to issue new customer protection directives to regulate the activities of airline operators and their customers.

The new directives are to help ensure that both operators and passengers are fully aware of their responsibilities and rights in order to contain disagreements that often arise between the two parties.

The Director General of the GCAA, Mr Simon Allotey, disclosed in a speech read on his behalf at the inaugural flight of Air Namibia on June 29, this year, in Accra.

After some four years absence from the runway and apron at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA), Air Namibia has made a comeback. On June 29, this year, the Airbus A319-100 landed at KIA.

Growing tension over international trade could damage the airline industry and the world economy, global airlines and aviation executives warned on Sunday.

The U.S. government has renewed tariff threats against China and imposed duties on steel and aluminum on U.S. allies Canada, Mexico and the European Union.

 “Any measures that reduce trade and probably consequently limit passenger travel are bad news,” Alexandre de Juniac, director general of the International Air Transport Association, told Reuters at IATA’s annual meeting in Sydney. The group represents most of the world’s main airlines

“We always get concerned when you start to see tensions elevate around global trade and free trade,” American Airlines Group Chief Executive Doug Parker said. American has not seen any effect yet on revenues, he said.

The Minister of Aviation, Ms Cecilia Abena Dapaah, has said the plan of the government to make Ghana an aviation hub within West Africa, and a preferred destination of choice for travelers is on course.

Towards that end, she noted that, the government had already embarked on several key strategic programmes to change the fortunes of the aviation industry in the country.

Addressing the China-Africa Regional Aviation Cooperation Conference last Wednesday, in Accra, Ms Dapaah said the government was collaborating with the private sector to achieve its vision.

For instance, she said the construction of a new passenger terminal at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) would soon be completed to facelift the country’s premier airport.