Press

As an obvious mindset, passergers always looking for complete transparency from any provider, and airline does not escape from it. What about improving transparancy on the fees ? A new consulttaioncy has been launched to assess how airline fees are determined, published and communicated to passengers at booking time. Looking forward conclusions and how this will materialize in the airline industry ...

With several countries taking the lead to reduce transportation CO2 levels down and limitating air traffic when alternate methods of transpostation exists, railway is becoming the key element in transportation within Europe. Aditionally competition between rail companies has stabilized prices making rail becoming very competitive versus other method of transportation.

Terminator, Robocop and other SciFi movies becoming reality ... How come that people starts to understand how AI is changing their life and overall the society for several years and only realises it since ChatGPT is on the spot ? AI chatbot tools have been deployed all over the websites, replacing human interactions. Is this a good or a bad thing ? ChatGPT is the stone that creates the waves and unveils how our life starts to become almost fully dependent on AI ...

After tremendously challenging years due to COVID pandemy, starting in February 2020, air traffic keeps recovering and ay year end 2022, almost achieves pre-pandemy levels. This is valid for passenger traffic but also for air cargo. IATA hopes that 2022 is the key year to finally let COVID crisis co,pletelly behind. Let's cross fingers this is the case ...

Thanks to the new visa scheme launched in October 2022, Portugal is attacting worldwide remote workers in the country for up to 12 months, with very minimum administrative constraints. This scheme is particularly attractive for Brezilian, English or American workers who want to have an aboard experience in Europe. Major cities such as Porto, Lisbon but also Leiria, Funchal have heavelly investied in digital infrastructure that allows anyone work remotelly.

After long years in discussions and internal hard work, Croatia will become the 27th member of the Schengen zone as from 1st January 2023. Croatia joined the EU in 2013 and since then have been working hard to adapt their boarder controls and procedures to comply with the Schengen protocols. Last but not least, Croatia will also adapt the Euro as from 1st January 2023 ! Well done to the country, and again ... welcome !

In line with the extension of environmental and sustainable business, airports and ground services providers will get their certifications reinforced with additional criteria. IATA launches a reinforcement of the certifications to these travel industry players, by adding environmental and sustainable criteria streamlining with the airlines. This approach complies with the environmental management requirements (ISO 14001), and uses the long IATAexpertise with safety auditing and strong governance and quality controls.

After the invalidation of the Privacy Shield by the EU justice in July 2020, the US have been working in redefining a new framework to protect personal data in the data transfers between Europe and the USA. Finally after long months of discussions, the US administration have signed the executive order allowing the definition and implementation of the new framework, that will be compliant with the EU court decision Schrems II. The ITI says this is a good decision and are looking forward working with the EU to implement a new data transfer protocol.

After a very long border closure due to COVID19, Hong Kong is now reopening its borders. To relaunch tourism as quick as possible and recover, they are offering up to 500,000 free air tickets for more than €250 million. These free tickets will be distributed to inbound and outbound passengers by the city’s airport authority. Airlines will be chosen by the airport authorities based on selective criteria.

Good news in the decarbonization of airline travel industry with a partnership between IATA and Etihad Airways. A project is launched to design, develop and use a CO2 emissions calculation tool dedicated to cargo flights. IATA expects to have the platform and tools ready for a launch by 2023 providing the industry with precise and consistent methodologies covering both passenger and cargo operations. Read more in the IATA website.