Menzies Aviation has successfully extended a major contract with Malaysia Airlines for a further five years. Menzies will continue to provide passenger, ramp and cargo services at five locations across Australia and New Zealand, including Sydney Airport (SYD), Melbourne Airport (MEL), Adelaide Airport (ADL), Perth Airport (PER) and Auckland Airport (AKL). Under the extended agreement, Menzies teams are expected to handle 3200 flights across the five locations each year until 2029. This renewal strengthens the pair’s long-term partnership at these locations, where Menzies has provided a range o ..read more

Strikes by Unite members at Heathrow could see planes delayed, disrupted and grounded due to their inability to be refuelled, the union warned today (Monday 22 April). 50 refuellers working for AFS are to take industrial action for 72 hours beginning on 4 May after their employer imposed drastic cuts to the terms and conditions of new staff recruited since January 2024. AFS, a joint venture between oil and gas companies (Air BP, Total, Q8 Air and Valero), has offered new staff in its workplace reduced pension and sickness benefits. Unite members at AFS, refuel aircraft at Heathrow from 35 diff ..read more

The 36th IATA Ground Handling Conference (IGHC), hosted by Icelandair in Reykjavík from May 7-9, 2024, will focus on integrating more sustainable practices into all aspects of ground handling operations. The conference aims to tackle critical issues such as achieving the industry’s ambitious goal of net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050, enhancing talent retention and development and making strategic investments to ensure long-term financial stability. Effective and sustainable ground operations are essential for the aviation industry to expand its economic and social benefits. By prioritizing people ..read more

The Global Airport Runway Lighting Market Size to Grow from USD 0.47 Billion in 2023 to USD 1.8 Billion by 2033, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 14.37% during the forecast period. Increased air travel worldwide has led to an increase in air traffic, necessitating the modernization and expansion of airport infrastructure, including runway lighting systems, to safely accommodate larger aircraft movements. Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) and smart lighting systems are examples of lighting technology advancements that provide superior energy economy, dependability, and longevity over tradi ..read more

Menzies Aviation, the leading service partner to the world’s airports and airlines, has announced three years of consecutive double-digit revenue growth, as air travel continues to edge closer to pre-pandemic levels. Reported in its 2023 Annual Review & Sustainability Report, the aviation services provider delivered a strong financial performance, with global revenue increasing to $2.2 billion – a 10.7% increase compared to the previous year. The Group delivered EBITDA of $318m (post IFRS16), representing a 15% margin. This growth comes on the back of an expanded global footprint and strat ..read more

Boeing is buying 9.4 million gallons (35.6 million litres) of blended sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to support its 2024 U.S. commercial operations, reducing its carbon emissions and working to help grow the supply of the fuel globally. This is the company’s largest annual SAF purchase, more than 60% higher than its buy in 2023. The blended fuel – 30% SAF made from waste by-products such as fats, oils, and greases and 70% conventional jet fuel – will support the Boeing ecoDemonstrator program and Boeing U.S. commercial operational flights. Ryan Faucett, vice president of environmental sustain ..read more

NAV CANADA and CAE today announced that they have signed a strategic agreement to increase training capacity for crucial air traffic services professionals. Under this first-of-its-kind partnership in Canada, CAE instructors will deliver initial training for Flight Service Specialists and Air Traffic Controllers using NAV CANADA’s training curriculum and courseware. The first classes will begin in the fall of 2024 at a new purpose-built Air Traffic Services Training Centre on CAE’s campus in Montreal. This agreement leverages the expertise of two Canadian industry leaders to innovate and addre ..read more

Last week, Airside visited ITW GSE’s Denmark production facility to interview the company’s vice president general manager, Poul Elvstrøm. In this interview, Elvstrøm gave insights on ITW GSE’s strategic expansion plans, post-Covid growth and new products. On sustainability, the ITW GSE boss emphasised the company’s commitment to providing environmentally friendly airport gate operations. How do you assess the growth of the global GSE market today, particularly in this post-pandemic era as aviation has returned to some form of normality? It’s probably not even a normality. But if we ..read more

Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and officials from Miami International Airport (MIA) celebrated the inauguration of the latest glass passenger boarding bridge at gate H17, marking a milestone in the airport’s ongoing modernization efforts. Daniella Levine Cava, Miami-Dade County Mayor said: “I am so proud to unveil our newest glass bridge at MIA and announce our ambitious plans to introduce 60 more, making MIA the largest user of these energy-efficient innovations in the country. “These bridges not only enhance the traveler experience but also demonstrate our commitment to sustain ..read more

Swissport has commenced services for Loganair and Vueling to provide airport ground services at Heathrow airport. The new contracts with the two carriers cover passenger services and ramp handling. Loganair is the UK’s largest regional airline and the contract to deliver its Terminal 2 operations marks an expansion of the existing collaboration between Swissport and the airline. Vueling, one of Europe’s leading low-cost carriers, is a new entrant to Heathrow’s Terminal 4, where it will offer daily flights to Paris-Orly and Barcelona. Karen Cox, CEO for Swissport UK & Ireland, says: “We are ..read more