The African Airlines Association (AFRAA) > Blog
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Press Release – EgyptAir Holding Company Chairman Dialogues with AFRAA

06 February 2023, Cairo – Egypt: The African Airlines Association (AFRAA) Secretary General, Mr. Abdérahmane Berthé, met EgyptAir Holding Company Chairman – Eng. Yehia Zakaria on 5th February at EgytAir Headquarters in Cairo – Egypt for the year’s first edition of the “AFRAA Member Airline CEOs Leadership Dialogues”. The CEO Dialogues initiative, which hosted a total of 8 airline CEOs in 2022, is part of AFRAA’s strategy to communicate with member’s leadership aimed at creating the space for dialogue that is necessary to develop transformative initiatives.

The deliberations created an opportunity to reflect and exchange ideas between AFRAA and EgyptAir. In particular, on EgyptAir’s plans and strategic direction, the opportunities for intra-African routes through AFRAA route connectivity tool, effective implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), advocacy for optimization of taxes and charges among other opportunities through AFRAA joint projects which implement cost-effective common solutions on various aspects of airline operations for member airlines.

Mr. Abdérahmane Berthé, AFRAA Secretary General stated: “AFRAA is pleased to dialogue with EgyptAir, one of the founding members of AFRAA whose membership spans since 1968.”

“The CEO Dialogues initiative which was started in 2022 has facilitated better understanding of our individual airline needs, local matters and challenges, priorities and business plans thereby enabling AFRAA to tailor specific actions that enhance relevance of the Association to our membership. I look forward to a continued mutually beneficial working relationship with EgyptAir and the entire AFRAA fraternity.” Mr. Berthé added.

The CEO’s Dialogues are round-the-year sessions that engage the Member airlines’ decision makers with AFRAA leadership towards effective implementation of added-value projects and actions supporting members’ sustainability. AFRAA’s actions are anchored on 5 pillars including:

  1. Safe, secure and reliable air transport
  2. visibility, reputation and influence of African Airlines
  3. Sustainable air transport
  4. Cooperation
  5. Data intelligence

Notes for Editors

About AFRAA

The African Airlines Association, also known by its acronym AFRAA, is a trade association of airlines from the member states of the African Union (AU). Founded in Accra, Ghana, in April 1968, and headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, AFRAA’s mission is to promote, serve African Airlines and champion Africa’s aviation industry. The Association envisions a sustainable, interconnected and affordable Air Transport industry in Africa where African Airlines become key players and drivers to African economic development.

AFRAA membership of 44 airlines cuts across the entire continent and includes all the major intercontinental African operators. The Association members represent over 85% of total international traffic carried by African airlines. Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube.

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Air Cairo Selects Accelya for Revenue Management

Accelya, a leading global provider of technology solutions to the travel industry, recently announced that ambitious Egyptian carrier Air Cairo has become the first North African airline to benefit from its market-leading revenue management solution.

The multi-year agreement will enable the Cairo-based hybrid airline to quickly identify sales opportunities, optimize pricing decisions, and better respond to the fast-changing market conditions.

Used by more than 80 of the world’s leading carriers, Accelya’s revenue management, inventory control and reporting tool offers alternative approaches to traditional forecasting methods. It aggregates data from a variety of unique sources, including real-time competitor insights.

By implementing Accelya’s revenue management solution, Air Cairo will join many hybrid carriers, which already rely on the state-of-the-art tool to unlock opportunities and maximize revenues across their key markets.

“Following a comprehensive selection process, it was clear that Accelya’s cutting-edge functionalities and bespoke services were best suited to address our requirements,” commented Mr. Hussein Sherif, CEO of Air Cairo. “Working closely with the Accelya team, we look forward to rolling out the market-leading revenue management solution, which will help us navigate today’s volatile market conditions and drive optimized pricing decisions.”

“Air Cairo has recognized the added value of our best-of-breed solution over the broad array of alternatives available. The powerful science and proven technology behind our revenue management solution, combined with first-class business consulting and continued support, has made Accelya a leading provider in the market,” added Mario Segovia Sman, VP Commercial, Middle East, at Accelya. “We’re confident that our milestone partnership with Air Cairo will unlock new revenue opportunities for the airline in a rapidly transforming market.”

For more information, please visit www.accelya.com

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Accelya – Making the Most of One Order: Think Finance!

Getting the finance team involved early in the process could be the key to unlocking the high-performance retailing potential of ONE Order, writes Muffi Lokhandwala, Business Development for Financial Solutions at Accelya.

Technological changes typically bring opportunities for airlines. That covers both expanded commercial potential and the simplicity of systems and processes. Maximizing those opportunities though requires that every team that will be impacted by the change is involved from the start. Bringing the finance team out from “behind the scenes” in the planning and integration phase could be critical in a transformational change such as the implementation of ONE Order.

Early input from all key teams is critical

Although often regarded as “back office”, finance has a critical role to play in compliance, risk, and reporting. Best practice demands that finance has a 360-view of what’s going on in the organization so that surprises can be avoided. Ensuring this is delivered in a change as fundamental as new messaging and standards for Order transformation, and subsequent settlement and accounting is therefore essential.

Too often, however, the input of teams that will implement and integrate new standards is introduced too late. Early cooperation can help to avoid bottlenecks and difficulties further down the line.

There’s a lot to think about as airlines consider the implementation of ONE Order to drive order transformation. And in this journey to high-performance retailing, it’s critical to think as carefully about what happens on the back end in accounting and control systems as the front end. This is particularly urgent if airlines are to achieve IATA’s goal of being in control of 100% of Offers & Orders by 2030.

To read the entire blog from Muffi Lokhandwala, please click on this link or visit Accelya.com

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African airlines’ performance updates by AFRAA – November 2022

Release date: 16 December 2022

COVID-19: The number of Covid-19 cases is once again on the rise in China, though the controversial Zero Covid Strategy is still in force. In Africa, the infections remains low despite the low vaccination rate of 24.6% compared to the global average of 68.5%.  Worldwide, the number of cases has reached 630 million and 12.6 million in Africa. The recovery rate is 99.98% worldwide compared to 98.01% in Africa.

EBOLA: The government of Uganda has extended the lockdown in the Ebola hotspots of Mubende and Kassanda by 21 more days. 55 confirmed deaths have been reported since the outbreak. So far no travel advisories on the outbreak. Airlines are however advised to exercise caution and report any passengers showing signs of the Ebola virus to the health authorities for further investigations.

AIRLINE PERFORMANCE: This November traffic and airlines capacity deployed reached 85.7% and 84.2% of the 2019 level respectively. Domestic market share is now at 34.3% capacity and 34.3%% of passengers carried while intra-Africa passengers carried represented 30.9% and corresponding capacity at 24.8%. Intercontinental traffic this month is 34.2% and capacity 34.8%. African airlines operations on international routes have now exceeded 2019 pre-Covid level by 2.28%. 7 African airlines have exceeded the number of international routes they operated before Covid.

AFRAA estimate revenue loss for 2022 to be $3.5 billion, equivalent to 20% of 2019 full year revenue. The projected revenue loss for the fourth quarter of 2022 is approximately $800 million.

Jet A1 price continues the upward trend. Year to date, global average price per barrel is $141.5. Impact on global airlines fuel bill is estimated at $130.8 billion for the full year 2022.

REGULATORY AND INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS

Environment: The UNFCCC COP27 climate talks took place in Sharm el Sheikh from 6-20 November.  Among others, they discussed the creation of a fund to compensate developing countries for the loss and damage they could experience from climate change (e.g., storm damage, flooding, drought, migration, sea level rise, etc.).  The EU expressed support for the fund and suggested a levy, charge, or tax on international aviation as a possible funding source.  This is at odds with the principles and frameworks set under ICAO.

US FAA: The FAA has set 31 December 2022 as the deadline for the following aircraft models to have their radio altimeter retrofitted to minimize aircraft communications disruptions resulting from 5G deployment: A300, A320, A330, A340, B737 Classic, B747, and B757.  The FAA says Aircraft that are not retrofitted will be subject to restrictions in the US market.

US Refund NPRM:  The deadline for comments on the DOT Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on refunds has been extended until 16 December 2022.  AFRAA encourages member airlines to either file their own comments or file in support of the IATA comments.

Montreal Protocol 2014:  Kenya, Peru and Sierra Leone have become parties to MP14, bringing the number of State parties to 41. A number of States are at advanced stages of progress towards ratification.

YD Day: A major highlight of the 2022 Yamoussoukro Decision Day (YD Day) celebrations held in Dakar, Senegal on 14 November was the launch of the SAATM Pilot Implementation Project (PIP), endorsed by 18 SAATM Member States. This is a commitment by the PIP member states to open-up their markets unconditionally to each other.

SAATM Regulatory Texts: The AU organized a continental capacity-building workshop on the regulatory instruments of the single African air transport market (SAATM) in Accra, 28 Nov – 02 Dec. The workshop was used to  sensitize States and RECs on implementation of the SAATM regulatory instruments – operations, powers and functions of the Executing Agency, consumer protection regulations, the competition regulations, the SAATM Dispute Settlement Mechanism and the revised African Civil Aviation Policy (AFCAP).

About    AFRAA

The African Airlines Association, also known by its acronym AFRAA, is a trade association of airlines from the member states of the African Union (AU). Founded in Accra, Ghana, in April 1968, and headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, AFRAA’s mission is to promote, serve African Airlines and champion Africa’s aviation industry. The Association envisions a sustainable, interconnected and affordable Air Transport industry in Africa where African Airlines become key players and drivers to African economic development. AFRAA membership of 44 airlines cuts across the entire continent and includes all the major intercontinental African operators. The Association members represent over 85% of total international traffic carried by African airlines. Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube.

 

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Communiqué de presse: L’AFRAA clôture sa 54ème Assemblée Générale Annuelle en mettant l’accent sur des actions concertées pour favoriser la durabilité de l’industrie du transport aérien

Dakar le 14 décembre, Dakar, Sénégal– L’Association des Compagnies Aériennes Africaines (AFRAA) et Air Sénégal ont clôturé la 54ème Assemblée Générale Annuelle (AGA) à Dakar, Sénégal. L’événement s’est tenu sous le Haut Patronage du Gouvernement du Sénégal. L’Assemblée, qui a rassemblé 456 délégués de 42 pays sous le thème “Activer la feuille de route pour une aviation africaine durable“, a appelé les compagnies aériennes africaines et les parties prenantes du transport aérien à agir sur les initiatives et les stratégies qui conduiront à la durabilité du secteur du transport aérien pour réaliser son potentiel. Il s’agit notamment de la feuille de route pour la durabilité du transport aérien, de la mise en œuvre effective du marché unique du transport aérien africain (SAATM), de l’accord de libre-échange continental (AFCFTA) et du protocole de libre circulation.

Dans son discours de bienvenue, M. Alioune Badara Fall, Président de l’AFRAA et DG d’Air Sénégal a déclaré : “Je rends hommage au travail extraordinaire des parties prenantes dans la mise en place de projets et de programmes pour construire ensemble un avenir plus solidaire pour une aviation africaine durable, pour le plein bénéfice des économies et des populations africaines.” Le but ultime, a-t-il noté, sera de réaliser l’amélioration de la connectivité entre les pays africains, de construire des transporteurs réellement efficaces tant sur le plan opérationnel que financier, d’atteindre des tarifs structurellement compétitifs afin d’offrir aux populations africaines la possibilité de voyager, de se rencontrer et d’échanger beaucoup plus facilement grâce à de nouvelles routes, des fréquences accrues.

Abdérahmane Berthé, Secrétaire Général de l’AFRAA, a noté avec satisfaction et grand intérêt l’importance accordée au développement du secteur aérien par l’Etat du Sénégal à travers des investissements dans les infrastructures de développement aéronautique et la Compagnie Nationale Air Sénégal. “En souvenir des moments particulièrement difficiles de cette phase en cours de restauration de l’activité du transport aérien, je tiens à exprimer une fois de plus la solidarité de l’AFRAA avec l’ensemble de la chaîne des acteurs de l’industrie aéronautique. En tant que communauté aéronautique, nous devons poursuivre les efforts communs en cours pour soutenir la reprise et favoriser un système de transport aérien durable et résilient en Afrique”, a-t-il déclaré.

Résolution sur les Émissions Nettes Zéro Carbone de l’Aviation d’ici 2050

Parmi les résolutions, conformément à l’engagement de l’industrie à atteindre des émissions nettes nulles d’ici 2050, l’Assemblée a exhorté toutes les parties prenantes de l’industrie à s’engager à traiter l’impact environnemental de leurs politiques, produits et activités avec des actions concrètes et des échéances claires. L’Assemblée a également encouragé toutes les compagnies aériennes membres de l’AFRAA à continuer d’améliorer l’efficacité de leurs opérations afin de réduire durablement les émissions du secteur et de soutenir la transition vers des carburants aéronautiques durables (SAF) fiables et compétitifs.

Nomination des membres du bureau :

La 54ème AGA de l’AFRAA a élu LAM Mozambique comme Président du Comité exécutif, Kenya Airways comme premier vice-président et Air Algérie comme second vice-président. Le Comité exécutif de l’AFRAA est responsable de la supervision de l’Association.

Hôte de la 55ème AGA :

La 54ème AGA de l’AFRAA a élu Uganda Airlines à la présidence de l’association. Uganda Airlines accueillera la 55ème AGA en Ouganda du 19 au 21 novembre 2023.

Lancement de la 1ère édition du rapport sur l’histoire de l’aviation :

L’AFRAA a lancé la première édition du rapport sur l’histoire de l’aviation africaine en marge de la 54ème Assemblée Générale Annuelle (AGA) et du Sommet de l’AFRAA le 12 décembre 2022 à Dakar – Sénégal. Le Rapport sur l’histoire de l’aviation par l’AFRAA est une publication prestigieuse de l’industrie, une première de son genre en Afrique, qui contient un riche mélange d’informations pour enrichir la compréhension du développement de l’aviation africaine.

Points saillants du rapport du Secrétaire général sur l’état de l’industrie :

La reprise de l’activité aéronautique s’est poursuivie en 2022. Après une contraction en 2020, le PIB de l’Afrique a rebondi de 6,9 % en 2021. Les perspectives de croissance économique en Afrique sont très incertaines. Les effets du conflit russo-ukrainien pourraient entraîner une baisse de la production mondiale plus importante que prévu actuellement.

Par rapport à février 2020, les compagnies aériennes africaines ont rouvert presque toutes les liaisons internationales. Certaines ont étendu leur réseau à de nouvelles destinations, notamment en Afrique de l’Ouest et du Nord. De janvier à novembre 2022, la capacité offerte a atteint 75,4% pour la même période en 2019, tandis que le trafic a atteint 74,7%. Le redressement du niveau d’activité de 2019 est toujours en cours.

Les priorités de l’AFRAA pour 2023 :

  1. Mettre en œuvre les actions de la feuille de route pour la durabilité du transport aérien en Afrique.
  2. Poursuivre le déploiement du plan stratégique quinquennal de l’AFRAA

 “Notre industrie doit renforcer sa résilience et sa durabilité face à de futures crises comme celle de Covid 19 et mettre fin à la marginalisation progressive dont nous avons souffert au cours des 40 dernières années.” M. Berthé a souligné.

À propos de l’AFRAA :

L’Association des compagnies aériennes africaines, également connue sous son acronyme AFRAA, est une association commerciale de compagnies aériennes des États membres de l’Union africaine (UA). Fondée à Accra, au Ghana, en avril 1968, et ayant son siège à Nairobi, au Kenya, l’AFRAA a pour mission de promouvoir et de servir les compagnies aériennes africaines et de défendre l’industrie aéronautique africaine. L’Association prévoit une industrie du transport aérien durable, interconnectée et abordable en Afrique, où les compagnies aériennes africaines deviennent des acteurs clés et des moteurs du développement économique africain.

Les 44 compagnies aériennes membres de l’AFRAA couvrent l’ensemble du continent et comprennent tous les grands opérateurs intercontinentaux africains. Les membres de l’Association représentent plus de 85% du trafic international total transporté par les compagnies aériennes africaines. Suivez-nous sur Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter et YouTube.

À propos d’Air Sénégal :

Air Sénégal a été créée en 2016 et a lancé ses vols commerciaux le 14 mai 2018. Air Sénégal a pour ambition d’être le leader du transport aérien en Afrique de l’Ouest en s’appuyant sur le hub régional AIBD (Aéroport International Blaise Diagne). Sa mission est de desservir les lignes nationales et internationales. La compagnie est ancrée dans la culture sénégalaise et dans l’ESPRIT TERANGA et place le client au cœur de sa stratégie. 

La compagnie exploite actuellement une flotte de deux Airbus A330-900Neo, deux Airbus A321, deux Airbus A319 et deux ATR 72-600, un A220-300, un A340 en Afrique de l’Ouest, Maroc, Afrique Centrale, France, Espagne, Italie et Etats-Unis.

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Press Release: AFRAA Concludes its 54th Annual General Assembly with Emphasis on Concerted Actions to Drive Air Transport Industry Sustainability

December 14, Dakar, Republic of Senegal – The African Airlines Association (AFRAA) and Air Senegal concluded the 54th Annual General Assembly (AGA) in Dakar, Senegal. The event was held under the High Patronage of the Government of Senegal. The Assembly, which brought together 456 delegates from 42 countries under the theme “Acing the Roadmap to Sustainable African Aviation”, called upon African airlines and air transport stakeholders to act on initiatives and strategies that will drive the sustainability of the air transport sector to realise its potential. Among others, these include: the Air Transport Sustainability Roadmap, the effective implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), the Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), and the Free Movement Protocol.

In his welcome address, Mr. Alioune Badara Fall, President of AFRAA and CEO of Air Senegal stated: “I pay tribute to the extraordinary work by stakeholders in putting in place projects and programmes to build together a more united future for a sustainable African aviation, for the full benefit of African economies and populations.” The ultimate goal, he noted, will realise the improvement of connectivity between African countries, build truly efficient carriers both operationally and financially, attain structurally competitive tariffs in order to offer African populations the ability to travel, meet and exchange much more easily through new routes, increased frequencies.

Mr. Abdérahmane Berthé, AFRAA Secretary General, noted with satisfaction and great interest the importance given to the development of the aviation sector by the State of Senegal through investments in aeronautical development infrastructure and the National Company Air Senegal. “In memory of the particularly difficult times during this ongoing phase to restore air transport activity, I would like once again to express AFRAA’s solidarity with the entire chain of players in the aeronautical industry. As the aviation community, we must continue the ongoing joint efforts to support recovery and foster a sustainable and resilient air transport system in Africa.” he stated.

Resolution on Aviation Net Zero Carbon Emissions by 2050

Among the resolutions, in line with the industry commitment towards achieving net zero emissions by 2050, the Assembly urged all industry stakeholders to commit to addressing the environmental impact of their policies, products, and activities with concrete actions and clear timelines. The Assembly further encouraged all AFRAA member airlines to continue improving their operations’ efficiency to achieve sustained in-sector emissions reductions and to support the transition to reliable, cost-competitive Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF).

Appointment of officers

The 54th AFRAA AGA elected LAM Mozambique as the Chairman of the Executive Committee while Kenya Airways was elected as first Vice Chairman and Air Algérie was elected as second Vice Chairman. The AFRAA Executive Committee has oversight responsibility for the Association.

Host of the 55th AGA

The 54th AFRAA AGA elected Uganda Airlines as the President of the association. Uganda Airlines will host the 55th AGA in Uganda from 19 – 21 November 2023.

Launch of the 1st edition of the History of Aviation report

AFRAA launched the 1st edition of the History of African Aviation Report at the side-lines of the 54th AFRAA Annual General Assembly (AGA) & Summit on December 12, 2022 in Dakar – Senegal. The History of Aviation Report by AFRAA is a prestigious industry publication, a first of its kind in Africa, which contains a rich mix of information to enrich the understanding of the development of African aviation.

Highlights from the Secretary General’s State of the Industry report

The recovery of aviation activity continued in 2022. After a contraction in 2020, Africa’s GDP rebounded by 6.9% in 2021. The prospects for economic growth in Africa are highly uncertain. The effects of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict could lead to a larger decline in global production than currently expected.

Compared to February 2020, African airlines have reopened almost all international routes. Some have extended their network to new destinations, particularly in West and North Africa. From January to November 2022, offered capacity reached 75.4% for the same period in 2019, while traffic reached 74.7%. The recovery of the level of activity in 2019 is still in progress.

AFRAA priorities for 2023:

  1. Implement the roadmap actions for the sustainability of air transport in Africa
  2. Continue to roll out the AFRAA Five-Year Strategic Plan

“Our industry must build its resilience and sustainability in the face of future crises like Covid 19 and stop the progressive marginalization we have suffered over the past 40 years.” Mr. Berthé emphasized.

About   AFRAA

The African Airlines Association, also known by its acronym AFRAA, is a trade association of airlines from the member states of the African Union (AU). Founded in Accra, Ghana, in April 1968, and headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, AFRAA’s mission is to promote, serve African Airlines and champion Africa’s aviation industry. The Association envisions a sustainable, interconnected and affordable Air Transport industry in Africa where African Airlines become key players and drivers to African economic development.

AFRAA membership of 44 airlines cuts across the entire continent and includes all the major intercontinental African operators. The Association members represent over 85% of total international traffic carried by African airlines. Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube.

About  Air Senegal
Air Senegal was established in 2016 and launched its commercial flights on May 14, 2018. Air Sénégal aims to be the leader in air transport in West Africa by relying on the AIBD (Aéroport International Blaise Diagne) regional hub. Its mission is to serve national and international routes. The company is rooted in the Senegalese culture and in the TERANGA SPIRIT and puts the customer at the heart of its strategy.

The company currently operates a fleet of two Airbus A330-900Neo, two Airbus A321, two Airbus A319 and two ATR 72-600, one A220-300, one A340 in West Africa, Morocco, Central Africa, France, Spain, Italy and the United States.

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Pratt & Whitney GTF™ Engines Power First Korean Air A321neo Aircraft

EAST HARTFORD, Conn., Nov. 29, 2022 – Pratt & Whitney joins Korean Air in announcing the delivery of the airline’s first Airbus A321neo aircraft, which will deploy starting in December. The plane is the first of up to 50 A321neo aircraft for which the airline selected GTF engines in 2020. In 2021, Korean Air joined the Pratt & Whitney GTF MRO network, providing disassembly, assembly and test capabilities for GTF engines for the A320neo family.

“We are delighted to receive our first A321neo, which will be a great asset to our fleet, network and passengers,” said Soo Keun Lee, executive vice president and chief safety & operation officer of Korean Air. “This fuel-efficient, next-generation A321neo will bring our customers’ experience to a new level.”

Korean Air and Pratt & Whitney began their relationship more than 60 years ago, flying Boeing 707 aircraft powered by JT3D engines. Pratt & Whitney powers more than 70 aircraft with the airline, including GTF-powered Airbus A220 aircraft, as well as Airbus A330, Boeing 747 and 777 aircraft. Korean Air also operates a fleet of 10 Airbus A380 aircraft powered by the Engine Alliance GP7200 engine, a joint venture between Pratt & Whitney and General Electric.

“Korean Air becomes the fifth airline to operate two different fleets of GTF-powered aircraft,” said Rick Deurloo, president of Commercial Engines at Pratt & Whitney. “Pratt & Whitney is uniquely positioned to power airlines’ needs across the latest single-aisle fleets, with GTF engines powering aircraft that carry 96 to 244 passengers and fly up to 4,700 nautical miles.”

The Pratt & Whitney GTF engine is the only geared propulsion system delivering industry-leading sustainability benefits and dependable, world-class operating costs. It offers the greatest fuel efficiency and lowest greenhouse gas emissions for the Airbus A320neo family. GTF-powered aircraft reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by 16% to 20%, NOx emissions by 50% and noise footprint by 75%.* Certified for operation on 50% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and successfully tested on 100% SAF, the engines are capable of even lower carbon emissions, which will help the industry meet its target of net zero emissions by 2050. The engine’s revolutionary geared fan architecture is the foundation for more sustainable aviation technologies in the decades ahead, with advancements like the Pratt & Whitney GTF Advantage™ engine and beyond. Learn more at pwgtf.com. 

*Reductions vs. prior-generation aircraft, based on 75 dB noise contour and ICAO CAEP/6 emissions regulations.

About Pratt & Whitney
Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft and helicopter engines, and auxiliary power units. To learn more visit www.prattwhitney.com. To receive press releases and other news directly, please sign up here.

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Clean Aviation SWITCH Project to Advance Hybrid-Electric and Water Enhanced Turbofan Technologies

East Hartford, Conn., November 29, 2022 – A group of aerospace technology companies have announced the formation of a collaborative consortium to develop hybrid-electric and water-enhanced turbofan technology for future aircraft propulsion systems, supported by the European Union Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking (Clean Aviation). MTU Aero Engines AG (MTU), Pratt & Whitney, Collins Aerospace (Collins), GKN Aerospace, Airbus and others aim to demonstrate the potential of these technologies to improve fuel efficiency and reduce aircraft emissions, with a goal of achieving up to 25% improvement in fuel efficiency and reduced CO2 emissions compared to today’s state-of-the-art propulsion systems for short- and medium-range aircraft. The consortium is coordinated by MTU.

The Sustainable Water-Injecting Turbofan Comprising Hybrid-Electrics (SWITCH) project is focused on developing a novel propulsion concept built from two revolutionary and synergetic technologies: Water Enhanced Turbofan (WET) and hybrid-electric propulsion. By combining these technologies with Pratt & Whitney’s GTFTM engine architecture, the SWITCH concept aims to significantly enhance efficiency and substantially reduce emissions across the full operating envelope of an aircraft. Technologies developed as part of SWITCH will be fully compatible with cleaner alternative fuels – such as Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) — and will be evaluated for future use with hydrogen.

“This highly impactful SWITCH consortium provides a unique opportunity to demonstrate the benefits of both WET and hybrid-electric propulsion technologies, not only independently, but as parts of a system,” said Dr. Stefan Weber, senior vice president, Engineering and Technology, at MTU. “WET offers considerable potential to boost efficiency and reduce all emissions significantly for future aircraft propulsion systems, whether they are powered by conventional kerosene, SAF, or even hydrogen. Since the concept is gas turbine based, the WET concept fully leverages MTU’s expertise.”

The hybrid-electric GTF powertrain will enable even greater efficiency across all phases of flight by leveraging highly efficient megawatt class electric motor generators, power electronics, and batteries to optimize the performance of the fuel-burning gas turbine. The WET concept recovers water vapor from the engine exhaust and re-injects it into the combustion chamber to significantly improve fuel efficiency, reduce NOx emissions, and lessen contrail forming emissions. These revolutionary technologies are designed to work together to deliver a step change reduction in emissions and energy use across the full operating system, while maintaining world class reliability and operability.

“This project will enable us to advance several key technologies on our roadmap to further extend the efficiency of the GTF engine architecture,” said Geoff Hunt, senior vice president, Engineering and Technology, at Pratt & Whitney. “Given the challenge of reducing the environmental impact of aviation, cross-industry collaboration and public-private partnerships like Clean Aviation will play a vital role in delivering the technology breakthroughs needed to make net zero emissions aviation a reality.”

Airbus will provide key expertise relating to the future integration of SWITCH technologies at the aircraft-level and will support the evaluation of performance benefits including aircraft design and integration of battery and energy management systems. “New propulsion technologies will play an important role in achieving aviation’s net-zero goals, along with new aircraft designs and sustainable energy sources,” said Sabine Klauke, chief technology officer at Airbus. “We welcome this opportunity to collaborate and progress research into the next generation of advanced powertrain concepts.”

Collins will provide megawatt-class electric motor generators and power electronics, high-voltage DC distribution and protection, thermal management components and nacelle architectures for the project. “Hybrid-electric propulsion technology is a key enabler for increased efficiency across multiple different aircraft applications, from advanced air mobility to commercial airliners,” said Mauro Atalla, senior vice president, Engineering & Technology for Collins Aerospace. “Working with Clean Aviation and the SWITCH consortium, we will accelerate the development of these critical technologies from our state-of-the-art facilities in France, Germany, Italy, Ireland and the UK.”

GKN Aerospace will develop various engine structures with all-new functionalities, such as integrated electric machines and heat exchangers. “We are delighted to be collaborating in the SWITCH project and help address many exciting opportunities and challenges around thermal and electrical power management within a highly advanced propulsion system,” said Henrik Runnemalm, vice president, Global Technology Center, Sweden, at GKN Aerospace. “We will leverage our unique hot test rig in Trollhättan, Sweden, as well as our high voltage electrical wiring developed by our GKN Fokker business in the Netherlands.”

Current funding for Phase 1 of SWITCH extends to 2025 and will include testing of a hybrid-electric GTF engine, WET technology and sub-system laboratory testing, and design activity around an integrated hybrid-electric and WET cycle propulsion system. Subject to successful testing of these key technologies and component designs, further phases of ground testing and flight tests are expected to follow.

Clean Aviation is a public-private partnership co-funded by the European Union between the European Commission, the aerospace industry, and research institutes, dedicated to advancing transformational aircraft technologies which will help enable net zero emissions for aviation by 2050. The project will be supported by UK Research and Innovation, and will leverage collaboration between multiple aerospace companies, universities and research organizations across 11 countries in Europe and the United States.

List of Participating Organizations and Locations

  • MTU Aero Engines (Germany, Poland)
  • Pratt & Whitney (USA, Poland)
  • Airbus (France, Germany, Spain, UK)
  • Collins Aerospace (France, Germany, Italy, Ireland, UK, USA)
  • GKN Aerospace (Sweden, Netherlands)
  • Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Greece)
  • Chalmers University of Technology (Sweden)
  • DLR German Aerospace Center (Germany)
  • University of Stuttgart (Germany)

Media Queries

Pratt & Whitney
Mads Neumann
+44(0)7468 757 744
media@prattwhitney.com

MTU Aero Engines
Martina Vollmuth|
+49 (0)89 1489-5333
martina.vollmuth@mtu.de

Collins Aerospace
Alexander Killeffer
+1 704-423-7577
alexander.killeffer@collins.com

Airbus
Lois Benquet
+33 6 42 88 10 65
lois.benquet@airbus.com

GKN Aerospace
Wesley Bates
+1 469 261 9460
wesley.bates@usa.gknaerospace.com

 

About Pratt & Whitney
Pratt & Whitney, a unit of Raytheon Technologies (NYSE:RTX) is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft and helicopter engines, and auxiliary power units. To learn more visit its www.prattwhitney.com. To receive press releases and other news directly, please sign up here.

About MTU Aero Engines
MTU Aero Engines AG is Germany’s leading engine manufacturer. The company is a technological leader in low-pressure turbines, high-pressure compressors, turbine center frames as well as manufacturing processes and repair techniques. In the commercial OEM business, the company plays a key role in the development, manufacturing and marketing of high-tech components together with international partners. Some 30 percent of today’s active aircraft in service worldwide have MTU components on board. In the commercial maintenance sector the company ranks among the top 3 service providers for commercial aircraft engines and industrial gas turbines. The activities are combined under the roof of MTU Maintenance. In the military arena, MTU Aero Engines is Germany’s industrial lead company for practically all engines operated by the country’s military. MTU operates a network of locations around the globe; Munich is home to its corporate headquarters. In fiscal 2021, the company had a workforce of more than 10,000 employees and posted consolidated sales of almost 4.2 billion euros.

About Collins Aerospace
Collins Aerospace, a Raytheon Technologies business, is a leader in technologically advanced and intelligent solutions for the global aerospace and defense industry. Collins Aerospace has the extensive capabilities, comprehensive portfolio and broad expertise to solve customers’ toughest challenges and to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving global market. For more information, visit CollinsAerospace.com.

About Airbus
Airbus pioneers sustainable aerospace for a safe and united world. The Company constantly innovates to provide efficient and technologically advanced solutions in aerospace, defence, and connected services. In commercial aircraft, Airbus offers modern and fuel-efficient airliners and associated services. Airbus is also a European leader in defence and security and one of the world’s leading space businesses. In helicopters, Airbus provides the most efficient civil and military rotorcraft solutions and services worldwide.

About GKN Aerospace
GKN Aerospace is the world’s leading multi-technology tier 1 aerospace supplier. As a global company serving the world’s leading aircraft manufacturers, GKN Aerospace develops, builds and supplies an extensive range of advanced aerospace systems, components and technologies– for use in Defense and Commercial aircraft ranging from helicopters, business jets, passenger planes to the most advanced fighter aircraft. Lightweight composites, additive manufacturing, innovative engine systems and smart transparencies help to reduce emissions and weight on the aircraft and enhance passenger comfort. GKN Aerospace is market leading in aerostructures, engine systems and operates in 12 countries at 38 manufacturing locations employing approximately 15,000 people.

About Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking
The Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking is the European Union’s leading research and innovation programme for transforming aviation towards a sustainable and climate neutral future. Pulling together the best talent and capabilities of the private and public sectors and developing cutting-edge technologies and making these available for a transformational leap in aircraft performance in the 2030s, the Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking will pave the way towards the EU’s ambition of climate neutrality by 2050.

Operating at the centre of a broad and diverse eco-system of players across Europe ranging from the aeronautical community, pioneering SMEs, research establishments and academia, it acts as a hub for new ideas and bold innovations.

As a European public-private partnership, Clean Aviation pushes aeronautical science beyond the limits of imagination by creating new technologies that will significantly reduce aviation’s impact on the planet, enabling future generations to enjoy the social and economic benefits of air travel far into the future.

Visit our website to find out more about Clean Aviation: www.clean-aviation.eu

 

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Posted on:

Rolls-Royce and Easyjet set new Aviation World First with Successful Hydrogen Engine Run

Rolls-Royce and easyJet today confirmed they have set a new aviation milestone with the world’s first run of a modern aero engine on hydrogen.

The ground test was conducted on an early concept demonstrator using green hydrogen created by wind and tidal power. It marks a major step towards proving that hydrogen could be a zero carbon aviation fuel of the future and is a key proof point in the decarbonisation strategies of both Rolls-Royce and easyJet.

Both companies have set out to prove that hydrogen can safely and efficiently deliver power for civil aero engines and are already planning a second set of tests, with a longer-term ambition to carry out flight tests.

The test took place at an outdoor test facility at MoD Boscombe Down, UK, using a converted Rolls-Royce AE 2100-A regional jet engine. Green hydrogen for the tests was supplied by EMEC (European Marine Energy Centre), generated using renewable energy at their hydrogen production and tidal test facility on Eday in the Orkney Islands, UK.

Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Grant Shapps, said: “The UK is leading the global shift to guilt-free flying, and today’s test by Rolls-Royce and easyJet is an exciting demonstration of how business innovation can transform the way we live our lives.

“This is a true British success story, with the hydrogen being used to power the jet engine today produced using tidal and wind energy from the Orkney Islands of Scotland – and is a prime example of how we can work together to make aviation cleaner while driving jobs across the country.”

Grazia Vittadini, Chief Technology Officer, Rolls-Royce, said: “The success of this hydrogen test is an exciting milestone. We only announced our partnership with easyJet in July and we are already off to an incredible start with this landmark achievement. We are pushing the boundaries to discover the zero carbon possibilities of hydrogen, which could help reshape the future of flight.”

Johan Lundgren, CEO of easyJet, said: “This is a real success for our partnership team. We are committed to continuing to support this ground-breaking research because hydrogen offers great possibilities for a range of aircraft, including easyJet-sized aircraft. That will be a huge step forward in meeting the challenge of net zero by 2050.”

Following analysis of this early concept ground test, the partnership plans a series of further rig tests leading up to a full-scale ground test of a Rolls-Royce Pearl 15 jet engine.

The partnership is inspired by the global, UN-backed Race to Zero campaign that both companies have signed up to, committing to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Images

Images of testing at Boscombe Down can be found here: https://www.flickr.com/gp/rolls-royceplc/iJED272Gw1

About Rolls-Royce Holdings plc

  1. Rolls-Royce pioneers the power that matters to connect, power and protect society. We have pledged to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions in our operations by 2030 (excluding product testing) and joined the UN Race to Zero campaign in 2020, affirming our ambition to play a fundamental role in enabling the sectors in which we operate achieve net zero carbon by 2050.
  2. Rolls-Royce has customers in more than 150 countries, comprising more than 400 airlines and leasing customers, 160 armed forces and navies, and more than 5,000 power and nuclear customers.
  3. Annual underlying revenue was £10.95 billion in 2021, underlying operating profit was £414m and we invested £1.18 billion on research and development. We also support a global network of 28 University Technology Centres, which position Rolls-Royce engineers at the forefront of scientific research.
  4. Rolls-Royce Holdings plc is publicly traded company (LSE: RR., ADR: RYCEY, LEI: 213800EC7997ZBLZJH69)

About easyJet

easyJet is Europe’s leading airline offering a unique and winning combination of the best route network connecting Europe’s primary airports with great value fares and friendly service. The airline joined the UN Race to Zero campaign in November 2021 and has recently published its roadmap to net zero carbon emissions by 2050, with a focus on new technology, such as hydrogen, and the ultimate ambition to achieve zero carbon emission flying across its entire fleet, which the airline is working on together with its partners including Airbus, Rolls-Royce, GKN Aerospace and Cranfield Aerospace Solutions. The roadmap also features a combination of fleet renewal, operational efficiencies, airspace modernisation, Sustainable Aviation Fuel and carbon removal technology. Additionally, it includes an interim carbon emissions intensity reduction target of 35% by 2035. Since 2000, easyJet has already reduced its carbon emissions per passenger, per kilometre by one-third.

For further information, please contact:

Daisy Omissi

Senior Vice President External Communications

Rolls-Royce – Civil Aerospace

Tel +44 (0)7500 990583

daisy.omissi@rolls-royce.com

 

Sonja Hildebrandt

Senior Sustainability Communications Manager – easyJet

Tel: +44 (0)7929876597

sonja.hildebrandt@easyJet.com

Posted on:

AIR SEYCHELLES ANNOUNCES NEW SERVICE TO KAZAKHSTAN

Air Seychelles, the national airline of the Republic of Seychelles, will be launching a new route
this December with twice weekly flights between Almaty, Kazakhstan and Mahe, Seychelles.
The seasonal service begins 26 December and will operate until 27 March, 2023.

The inaugural flight will depart Almaty on 26 December, arriving into Mahe on 27 December
at 07:00. The new service, a first ever between the two countries, will be operated on a twoclass
Airbus A320 neo with 12 seats in Business Class and 156 in Economy Class, providing a
total of 672 seats to and from Kazakhstan each week.

Air Seychelles Chief Commercial Officer, Charles Johnson explains: “We’re extremely proud to
announce our first new destination after the Covid pandemic. With the recent signing of a new
bilateral agreement between the two countries, this route will open the door to Kazakhs
wanting to explore Seychelles and other islands in the Indian Ocean. It also marks the first time
Air Seychelles will be flying to Central Asia, which offers a growing leisure tourism market that
will surely love the award winning beaches and rare animals such as giant Aldabra tortoises
that Seychelles has to offer.”

The seasonal service will offer connections to Mauritius, Maldives and Johannesburg. In
addition to the twice weekly service, additional flights are on sale for the peak festive season
in December and March.

Flight schedule for Almaty flights:

All times noted are local. Flights operate with a brief technical stop in Abu Dhabi.
END
The Seychelles national carrier has been flying for over 45 years. Wholly owned by the
Government of Seychelles, the carrier operates regionally from its home in Mahe to Tel Aviv,
Johannesburg, Mumbai, Mauritius, and Maldives with state of the art Airbus A320NEO’s.
Domestically the carrier operates up to 30 roundtrips a day to Praslin, the second largest island
in the archipelago, along with various charters to other islands on its twin-otter fleet.
In 2022, Air Seychelles managed to retain the most coveted title of ‘Indian Ocean’s Leading
Airline’ at the 29th edition of the World Travel Awards as well as, ‘Indian Ocean’s Leading
Airline Business Class’, ‘Indian Ocean’s Leading Cabin Crew’ and ‘Indian Ocean’s Leading Airline
Lounge.’
Media inquiries Air Seychelles
Corporate Affairs
Email: ltesta@airseychelles.com

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