Page 58 - World Airnews Magazine February 2020 Edition

FEATURE REVIEW

WHAT WILL 2020 BRING TO A RECORD NUMBER OF

THE AVIATION INDUSTRY? ARRIVALS AT KSIA

By Chris Morris World Airnews correspondent Clinton Barnard

presents his annual review for 2019 of Foreign Based
Passenger Operators serving King Shaka International
Airport (KSIA)

The following total actual weekly FBISPO arrivals were
recorded:

f there is any one phenomenon that negatively infected FBISPO
Ioperati ons in 2019, then it must surely be the far greater TOTAL ACTUAL WEEKLY ARRIVALS MULTIPLE REMARKS

proportion of cancelled flights (for all reasons) compared with the
previous year and indeed, even prior to that. 26 1
Admittedly, this phenomenon has mostly been limited to the 28 6

smaller airlines like Air Namibia and regional airline Proflight Zam-

bia, but even the far larger ones such as Turkish Airlines and British 29 8
Airways have not been immune and one is left to speculate as to

how this cancer might spread in 2020? 30 5

Only one FBISPO introduced new main aircraft equipment to
KSIA operations, which had the benefit of keeping Durban's pre- 31 13

mier international airport at the technological forefront. 32 8

Four of the existing seven FBISPOs serving Durban increased
their total number of actual arrivals (as opposed to scheduled 33 2

arrivals) compared with 2018, a big positive given the unfavour-

able world economic climate, and the remaining three effectively 34 2 2019 record

remained more or less stable.

To everyone's relief there were no significant reductions in actual 35 3 2019 record

arrivals totals over 2018. This gave rise to a record number of total 36 3 2019 record
actual FBISPO arrivals for the year, since the airport's opening in
Transport Association (IATA) cut its estimate been reported that some airlines may allow 2010 – due mainly to two FBISPOs. 37 1 2019 record

for 2020 earnings in the aviation industry passengers to begin taking liquids on board Three of the current FBISPOs continued to operate indirect ser-
020 will be a landmark year for by around 20%. The IATA represents 290 flights once more next year, which will be vices to Durban (Air Namibia, Turkish Airlines and Qatar Airways), Total = 52 weeks

2many reasons, not least the aviation industry companies, which account made possible by new scanning technology. the remainder four all flying directly (Air Mauritius, British Airways, TABLE 2: MULTIPLES OF TOTAL ACTUAL WEEKLY

symmetry of the digits involved. And it’s for 82% of scheduled airline traffic. As Elsewhere, Premium Economy is set to Emirates and Proflight Zambia). ARRIVALS BY FBISPOs AT KSIA FOR 2019

definitely set to be an intriguing year for margins get tighter in the industry, many continue its rise to prominence. Airlines Including cancellations and additional scheduled flights, each

aviation, with the industry currently going carriers will be feeling the pinch. love this classification, not because they FBISPO achieved the following weekly actual arrivals frequency The statistic of total weekly actual arrivals is fascinating. Why?

through a paradigm shift on many levels. NEW TECHNOLOGY love delivering for their customers, but totals: Because every FBISPO has to be on form over the same period of

time for this figure to reach record levels. It is thus a joint perfor-
because it makes them more money per
SUSTAINABLE FUEL Technology will also be a talking point in square foot than any other part of their FBISPO ACTUAL WEEKLY ARRIVAL FREQUENCIES mance figure (team effort) and the size of the airline and the total

One trend that we can expect to see 2020, with the airline industry always keen airplanes! As more carriers introduce Pre- number of passengers carried has no bearing at all on each airline's

becoming more pronounced in 2020 to embrace the latest innovations. Robotic mium Economy, there will be more choice Air Mauritius 2, 3 and 4 influence.

is carriers using increasing quantities assistants will become a more common sight for passengers, but they’ll have to shop Air Namibia 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 Every flight counts no matter whether you are the smallest

of sustainable aviation fuel. The airline in airports next year, while the adoption of around in order to get the best deals in a airline or the largest or whether you fly frequently or less often. It

industry will come under the microscope 5G networks will also continue apace. crowded marketplace. British Airways 2 and 3 thus levels the playing grounds.

with regard to its environmental creden- Artificial intelligence, augmented reality LABOUR ISSUES From the above Table, one can see the total of 31 actual weekly
tials, and sustainable aviation fuel is one and virtual reality will all begin to play a Emirates 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11 and 12 arrivals was most commonly achieved with 13 occurrences

way of addressing government and public bigger part in the customer experience in Finally, despite the fact that aviation throughout the year, followed equally by both 29 and 32 with eight

concerns. 2020. And airlines and airports also continue retains something of a glamorous image, Proflight Zambia 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 occurrences, while the opposite extremities of 26 and 37 only

Sustainable fuels are essentially biofuels to explore blockchain technology as a way the industry continues to seek new ways achieved one occurrence each.

for aircraft, with any fuel achieving sustain- to improve safety and security at airports, in to attract young people to work in it. Turkish Airlines 3 and 4 One might wonder what resulted in the above low of 26 total

ability certification having met criteria re- both booking and tracking functions. According to HR.com, 42% of aerospace Qatar Airways 4 FBISPO actual arrivals for the past year? This occurred in the week

lated to its global environmental, social and CUSTOMER FOCUS leaders consider a labor shortage in the of April 29, 2019 during which the main contributory factors were:

economic impact. As the carbon footprint maintenance technician field to be their TABLE 1: FBISPO ACTUAL WEEKLY ARRIVALS Emirates was in its ebb and only logged five of its usual minimum

of airlines becomes an ever greater hot In a competitive and profit-challenged most urgent challenge, ranked above even FREQUENCIES AT KSIA IN 2019 of seven arrivals; Air Mauritius completed its standard three arriv-
potato issue, more and more carriers will industry, the good news for passengers climate change and Brexit. als rather than the four maximum it might have achieved during a

be switching to these fuels in an attempt to in 2020 is that the customer will be king. The picture that is painted for aviation in From the above, it is evident that four flights per week was busier time of the year and most significantly, the smallest FBISPO,

reduce their environmental impact. Airlines will be courting customers more 2020 is an industry that is rapidly develop- the most common frequency flown in 2019 (by five airlines), Proflight Zambia logged no flights that week due to the reason
than ever over the next 12 months, and ing and embracing new innovations while followed by three flights per week (four airlines) and then two given below.

PROFITABILITY this means more deals, more flexibility, and facing up to some massive challenges flights per week (three airlines). Note that these frequencies 2019 also witnessed the first ever occurrences of

Profitability is also highly likely to be an more focus on the passenger experience. that will define the future direction of the were not necessarily sustained and many instances were just successively 34, 35, 36 and 37 total weekly actual

issue for carriers after the International Air While this will take many forms, it has also industry. Q once-off events. arrivals with each setting a new local record in turn, To page 58

World Airnews | February 2020 World Airnews | February 2020
— 56 — — 57 —