SITA announced an improvement in the air transport industry’s rate of mishandled baggage. The newly launched SITA Baggage IT Insights 2024 reports the number of bags mishandled by the industry falling from 7.6 to 6.9 per 1,000 passengers in 2023. This is despite passenger numbers rising above 2019 levels for the first time in five years, growing to 5.2 billion. The long-term trend underlines the positive impact of technology investments. A steep 63% drop in the mishandling rate from 2007 to 2023 happened as passenger traffic rose by 111%. But the industry still faces challenges, particularly ..read more

SR Technics said it has signed a five-year General Terms of Agreement with Skymark Airlines for exclusive rights to maintain Skymark’s CFM56-7B engines. At the signing ceremony in Japan, Owen McClave, SR Technics’ CEO stated: “We are proud that SR Technics service is entrusted to continue this level of performance. SR Technics team is excited to further extend our existing, very successful partnership and collaboration with the Skymark team. The five-year service promise we signed today confirms Skymark’s confidence in SR Technics’ ability and expertise to provide best-in-class MRO services f ..read more

Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. announced the clean-sheet Gulfstream G500 and Gulfstream G600 have each surpassed 100,000 flight hours. Powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada engines, both aircraft feature the award-winning Gulfstream Symmetry Flight Deck, with safety enhancing technology, including the industry’s first active control sidesticks and most extensive use of touch-screen technology, along with Phase-of-Flight intelligence. Both aircraft are recognised for their industry-leading cabin comfort, with award-winning seating and interior design. “Our award-winning G500 and G600 continue to d ..read more

Leisure airline Beond has selected OEMServices to support its Airbus single-aisle fleet with component services. Based in the Maldives, Beond has entrusted OEMServices with the support of its Airbus A319 and A321 fleet. Within the scope of the contract, OEMServices will ensure parts availability by providing 24/7 pool access and repair services from Dubai, a strategic location for both Beond and OEMServices. The synergies created will ensure timely support for a premium leisure passenger experience. Didier Granger, President and CEO of OEMServices, said: “It is a pleasure to welcome Beond in ..read more

Air cargo demand and rates from Asia Pacific origins continue to soar well above last year’s levels, with spot rates from Vietnam to Europe, in particular, spiking even further in the last two weeks, according to the latest weekly figures and analysis from WorldACD Market Data. Based on the more than 450,000 weekly transactions covered by WorldACD’s data, overall tonnages and rates from Asia Pacific origins are up, year on year (YoY) by +20% and +16%, respectively, in the last two full weeks (weeks 22 and 23), based on a full-market average of spot rates and contract rates. But looking at spo ..read more

Asian Aviation Magazine Editor Matt Driskill is In Conversation with Sumesh Patel, president of the Asia-Pacific region for the technology company SITA on the state of commercial aviation, the adoption of technology at airports and a host of other topics. Sumesh Patel, president of Asia-Pacific for SITA. (PHOTO: SITA) Patel was named president of SITA Asia-Pacific in 2017. He is responsible for developing and driving the strategic direction of SITA in the region. Patel is a global leader in the air transport industry with decades of experience working with a ..read more

Textron Aviation announced the company is expanding its footprint in Australia to modernise facilities and increase Cessna, Beechcraft and Hawker parts availability in the region. In addition, Premiair Aviation Maintenance, an Australian service centre acquired by Textron Aviation in 2020, has changed its name to Textron Aviation Australia Pty Ltd. to fully integrate the Perth, Gold Coast and Melbourne facilities into the company’s comprehensive global service network. Beechcraft, Cessna and Hawker customers receive factory-direct support, maintenance and modifications by Textron Aviation thr ..read more

Eurowings, Lufthansa Systems partner on AI assistant: Lufthansa Systems announced that Eurowings is the launching customer for the cutting-edge AI-powered operations control assistant NetLine/Ops ++ aiOCC. The web-based AI assistant supports airline operations controllers in increasing the stability and efficiency of daily operations. Both companies worked closely together on this project. The smart assistant, which is integrated into NetLine/Ops ++, the next-generation operations control system from Lufthansa Systems, has been in use at the Eurowings operations control centre (OCC) in Cologn ..read more

AirAsia (AXM) has signed an agreement for N-Flight Planning, Mission+FLIGHT and Flysmart+, three state-of-the-art NAVBLUE solutions which will help the airline digitalise and enhance its flight operations. Air Asia was also part of the Early Adopter Program with Mission+, providing feedback during the development and testing phase as NAVBLUE continues to innovate its next generation platform. N-Flight Planning, NAVBLUE’s award-winning flight planning solution, has been chosen by AirAsia based on its track record of being one of the safest, most efficient and optimised flight planning applicat ..read more

Quickstep Holdings recently provided an update on several significant new business developments that underscore its commitment to innovation. Significant Follow-On Order for Volanti Aircraft: Quickstep has received a follow-on order for 20 Volanti aircraft, valued at approximately $430,000. This order supplements the $1.35 million order for 40 units previously announced in March, which was successfully delivered in early June. Reflecting strong customer interest, a foreign military customer has also requested overseas trials of the Volanti aircraft in its current build configuration. Continu ..read more