Navigating the Skies: The Reality of Carbon Offsets in Air Travel

In the wake of global efforts to combat climate change, the aviation industry has faced increasing scrutiny for its environmental impact. Responsible for nearly 3% of global carbon dioxide emissions, airlines are under pressure to adopt sustainable practices. One prominent approach has been the introduction of carbon offset programs, allowing passengers to pay extra to mitigate the environmental impact of their flights. However, the question remains: Does buying carbon offsets genuinely contribute to a greener planet?

Understanding Carbon Offsets

Carbon offsets operate on the principle of mitigating climate damage caused by carbon emissions. Passengers, concerned about their flights’ carbon footprint, can opt to purchase carbon credits. Each credit represents the reduction of one tonne of carbon dioxide emissions, typically generated from verified environmental projects. When these credits are used to compensate for emissions, they are retired, becoming carbon offsets.

The Role of Airlines

Over 50 airlines, including major carriers such as Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Qatar Airways, Lufthansa, and All Nippon Airways, offer passengers the option to buy carbon offsets. Despite this widespread availability, the voluntary nature of these programs results in a notably low uptake rate. According to Air Transport Action Group Executive Director Haldane Dodd, the participation rate is typically “very low,” with fewer than 5% of passengers choosing to offset their emissions through airlines.

Challenges in Uptake

Experts point to various reasons behind the low adoption of carbon offset schemes. The voluntary nature of these programs means passengers perceive them as an additional cost, potentially impacting travel budgets. With rising airfares and growing concerns about inflation, consumers are becoming increasingly cost-conscious. Although the pandemic has heightened awareness of green consumption, the financial considerations often outweigh the desire to offset carbon emissions.

Singapore Airlines’ Approach

Singapore Airlines, for instance, offers passengers the ability to calculate their carbon emissions and pay for offsets. Funds from these offset fees contribute to initiatives such as rainforest preservation in Indonesia, solar energy projects in India, and the distribution of clean-burning cooking stoves in rural Nepal.

While the intention behind carbon offset programs is noble, the current reality indicates a significant gap between intention and action. Addressing the low uptake of these initiatives requires a comprehensive understanding of consumer behavior, cost considerations, and effective communication about the tangible impact of offset contributions. As the aviation industry continues to grapple with its environmental responsibilities, finding ways to bridge this gap will be crucial in fostering a truly sustainable future for air travel.

Source: Airspace-Africa.

African airlines still face government-imposed financial pressures that exceed global norms

The International Air Transport Association (IATA), which is the global representative body for the airline industry, has again highlighted the problem of high commercial aviation costs in Africa and urged African governments not to increase them. These costs come from higher-than-global-average fees, levies and carbon and other taxes imposed on air transport, tourism and trade, by African governments. This is not only a problem for airlines, particularly African ones, who are still recovering from the Covid pandemic, but also for the economic development of the countries that are imposing such costs.

‘[In Africa] the average airfare is already 30% higher than the industry average and the jet fuel cost is 10% to 20% higher than the global average,” pointed out IATA regional VP Africa and the Middle East Kamil Al-Awadhi, in his address to the fifty-fifth annual general meeting of the African Airlines Association (AFRAA), in Entebbe, Uganda. “Higher costs would discourage customers who are sensitive to prices, resulting in lower demand and revenue for airlines and other stakeholders in the aviation sector, such as airports, ground handlers, suppliers and air navigation services. They would also hamper economic development and limit the opportunities for job creation and income generation. High-cost leads to high price, which reduces demand and growth in a price elastic market, and ultimately affects connectivity negatively.”

He urged African governments to follow the policies of the intergovernmental International Civil Aviation Organization, on aviation charges and infrastructure. He further urged African States to consult with the industry and with airlines to create an operational environment that was fair and cost-effective and would bring the benefit of a better-connected continent.

Another major financial issue facing airlines in Africa was that of blocked funds, he cited. A number of African governments had banned the repatriation of money, accrued through ticket sales, by airlines based in other countries. In September, the global total figure for blocked airline funds was $2.36-billion; of that total, African countries were responsible for $1.68-billion.

“Aviation is capital intensive,” he pointed out. “Cash flow is key for airlines’ business sustainability – when airlines are not able to repatriate their funds, it severely impacts their operations and impacts their decisions on where to fly. But the risk of blocked funds is not just limited to airlines; the negative impact extends to the countries blocking the funds. It impacts the country’s economy and its connectivity, and it hurts investor confidence and reputation. Aviation is not only an economic enabler; it is a pillar of modern economies. Governments must prioritize aviation and find sustainable solutions in the clearing of blocked funds, and we continue to offer our support in any way we can.”

On the bright side, working together, IATA and AFRAA have had success in persuading a number of African governments to unblock airline funds, he reported. Since 2018 a “significant amount” of such funds have been released by Angola, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria and Zimbabwe. The two associations are also advising governments on the best practices to clear the backlogs of blocked funds.

Source: Engineering news

El Salvador slaps a $1,130 fee on African and Indian travelers as US pressures it to curb migration

MEXICO CITY (AP) — El Salvador’s government has begun slapping a $1,130 fee on travelers from dozens of countries connecting through the nation’s main airport, amid U.S. pressure to help control migration flows to its southern border.

Since the end of October, citizens of 57 largely African countries and India have had to pay the fee, according to El Salvador’s aviation authority.

Aviation officials did not say whether the measure was aimed at reducing migration and have described the tariff as an “airport improvement fee,” but El Salvador’s government acknowledged an uptick in travelers from those countries this year. Also, the U.S. has been pressuring Central American countries to curb migration flows to its border with Mexico. U.S. authorities say they stopped migrants there more than 2 million times during the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30.

El Salvador’s aviation authority said most passengers who have to pay the fee are headed to Nicaragua on the commercial airline Avianca. Because of its lax visa requirements, Nicaragua is a transit point for migrants from Haiti and Cuba, as well as from Africa, who are trying to reach the U.S.

Earlier this year, for example, U.S. officials were surprised by an increase in Mauritanian migrants arriving at the southern border. No natural disaster, coup or sudden economic collapse could explain it. Rather, travel agencies and social media influencers were promoting a multileg trip that took migrants from the west African nation to Nicaragua.

A flight itinerary of one Senegalese migrant seen by The Associated Press showed the migrant passing through Morocco, Spain and El Salvador before landing in Managua. The last two legs were aboard Avianca flights.

Source: Seattle Times

Kagame: Single African Air Transport Market Needed for Tourism Growth

Rich with tourism attractions, Africa remains poorly connected via air transport, making it difficult to market itself as a tourist destination within its boundaries and internationally.

Lack of viable transport polices among African states, high cost of air travel to Africa and within the continent, remains a barrier to the growth of the tourism sector.

Implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) is therefore an important priority to connect Africa by air, Rwanda’s President Kagame said.

While the travel and tourism industry has recovered strongly globally, Kagame pointed out that the high cost of air travel to Africa and within Africa remains a barrier and the implementation of SAATM is an important priority.

SAATM is the unified air transport market aiming to boost the aviation industry on the continent by allowing free movement of airlines from one country to another.

President Paul Kagame said that implementation of the Single African Air SAATM will bring about positive development in tourism through air connection between each African state and other continents.

Kagame said during the just-ended World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) 2023 in Kigali that higher costs of air should be controlled through joint efforts by African governments as to attract more tourists within the continent and outside its boundaries.

“We should not lose sight of our own continental market. Africans are the future of global tourism as our middle class continues to grow at a fast pace in the decades to come. We must work closely together with partners, like the WTTC, to continue developing Africa into a premium destination for global travel”, Kagame told the delegates.

Latest report on tourism in Africa shows that travel and tourism could increase Africa’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to $50 billion by 2033 and create six million more jobs by employing the right approach and galvanized efforts through viable investments.

Kagame said that Rwanda had identified tourism as a key driver of economic growth earlier on, and the results have not been disappointing.

“Every year, we welcome so many visitors who come to Rwanda to enjoy the unique natural beauty, attend sporting events, or participate in gatherings like this. This is a privilege and a trust that we don’t take for granted,” he said.

He said that conservation efforts were in place to build a more sustainable future and which have recognized Nyungwe National Park as a world heritage site.

Additionally, Rwanda had invested in the infrastructure and skills that would to host major sports events, including the Basketball Africa League.

He signaled that Rwanda had removed visa restrictions for citizens of every African country as well as many other countries, hence, inviting the delegates to visit different parts of Rwanda.

Co-organized by the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), the WTTC 2023 was the most influential annual summit on the travel and tourism calendar which brought together thousands of travel and tourism industry leaders, experts and key government representatives.

The WTTC had brought together tourism leaders and policy makers to continue aligning their efforts to support the growth of the tourism sector and then move towards a safer, more resilient, inclusive and sustainable future.

Julia Simpson, President and CEO of WTTC, commended the efforts of the Rwandan government in building the tourism sector which is the main contributor of the economy and employs a significant number of people.

These efforts have enabled Rwanda ranking among the top world’s 20 countries with ease of doing business on the continent and across.

Simpson added that the summit was an opportunity that would lead debates with governments and point out the need for policy shifts to develop a sustainable industry.

Chief Executive Officer of Rwanda Development Board Mr. Francis Gatare said that the WTTC global summit in Rwanda and Africa marked an incredible milestone for the continent’s tourism growth.

“It is also an opportunity for the world to see our country and experience the tremendous transformation that Rwanda has gone through and Africa’s dedication to sustainable tourism”, Gatare said.

Source: Eturbo news.

How Dubai Airshow showed aviation is flying high again

The Dubai Airshow, a bellwether for the global aviation industry’s health, showcased the sector’s strong return to growth following the Covid-19 pandemic as airlines sealed multibillion-dollar deals for jets and signalled their confidence in the longevity of air travel demand.

The biennial global aerospace exhibition, which ended on Friday, was heaving with visitors throughout the week, as more than 115,000 people attended.

Global aircraft manufacturers secured deals, reconnected with customers at crowded chalets overlooking the DWC airport apron and expressed optimism about the continued growth of the industry.

This was all despite the headwinds of geopolitics, higher fuel prices, inflationary pressures, supply-chain bottlenecks and economic uncertainty – though these were also key topics of discussion at the industry event.

If the 2021 Dubai Airshow demonstrated signs of recovery from the pandemic, which brought the worst crisis in the industry’s history, then this year’s event highlighted its resilient return to sustainable growth.

Paul Griffiths, chief executive of Dubai Airports, summed up this sentiment at the Dubai Airshow gala dinner on Thursday night.

“We’re back!” he proclaimed to a gathering of the aviation industry’s elite, attended by Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed, chairman and chief executive of Emirates Airline and Group.

“The emotional heart of this fabulous industry here in the UAE beats more strongly and more optimistically than ever before,” said Mr. Griffiths.

The Dubai Airshow’s host airline Emirates, along with its sister carrier flydubai, led the orders for commercial jets and underlined the recovery in the wide-body aircraft market, as long-haul travel makes a strong comeback.

Emirates ordered 110 aircraft worth $58 billion at list prices, while flydubai ordered 30 Boeing 787 Dreamliner wide-bodies valued at $11 billion. Customers typically get significant discounts, particularly for large orders.

Flydubai’s surprise order for 787s marks the first time it has introduced wide-bodies to its fleet.

The Dreamliners will give the airline the ability to reach markets beyond the range of its current all-Boeing fleet of 737 narrow-bodies.

“It gives us big opportunities,” airline chief executive Ghaith Al Ghaith told reporters.

“The airline is now nearly 15 years old, the 787 will be delivered in 2026 and by then we will be 18 years old.

“At that stage the airline would reach a point of maturity and we can grow in more markets.

“In terms of flight movements, we have great confidence.

“In our experience in flydubai, we flew to several points where we created demand to Dubai and people came. Dubai and the UAE are attractive markets and we have great confidence that any market we operate with the 787 will add positive value to Dubai and to the country.”

The two UAE carriers dominated the air expo with their order splash.

“The Dubai Airshow 2023 signifies a significant step in the aviation industry’s return to growth, following the initial recovery signals sent by the 2021 edition,” Linus Bauer, founder and managing director of Bauer Aviation Advisory, told The National.

“The 2023 show demonstrated a robust resurgence in industry confidence, marked by numerous high-value aircraft deals, cutting-edge technological showcases and a strong focus on sustainability and innovation.”

While the highlights were the deals by Emirates and flydubai, a “number of interesting orders from other airlines including Air Baltic and EgyptAir [gave] the show a broadly upbeat and optimistic tone”, said John Strickland, head of UK-based JLS Consulting.

The most significant deals

Boeing overtook its European rival Airbus with the biggest haul of aircraft orders at the Dubai Airshow this week, mainly due to its historically stronger portfolio of wide-body jets that are popular with major Gulf carriers such as Emirates, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways.

The US plane maker surged ahead with firm orders for 214 aircraft including its 777X, 737 Max and 787 Dreamliners, with options for up to 83 additional jets.

While Emirates and flydubai made up the lion’s share of these deals, other Boeing customers at the airshow included SunExpress, Royal Jordanian, Royal Air Maroc, Scat Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines and EgyptAir.

“We believe that the volume of orders that have been placed with us this week is testament to the value that our airline partners put on Boeing’s advanced engineering and systems capabilities, and also a vote of confidence in our ability to deliver the [aircraft] that they require to serve their customers for decades to come,” Omar Arekat, Boeing’s vice president of commercial sales and marketing in the Middle East, told The National.

“The future of aviation is brighter than ever.”

Airbus, meanwhile, left the air show with firm orders for 66 aircraft including 15 A350-900s by Emirates, 11 A350-900s by Ethiopian Airlines, 10 A350-900s by EgyptAir and 30 A220-300s by Air Baltic.

The European plane maker secured the deal with Emirates for the A350-900s in the last minute on the penultimate day of the Dubai Airshow, three days after Boeing made big announcements at the opening of the expo.

The order came after differences between Emirates and engine-maker Rolls-Royce stood in the way of a deal for the larger A350-1000 model at the Dubai Airshow.

The airline was seeking guarantees from the UK manufacturer on the maintenance cost of the engines for the A350-1000 and their performance in harsh desert conditions.

Rolls-Royce’s Trent XWB-84 powers the smaller A350-900s, while the Trent XWB-97 engines powers the A350-1000s.

Meanwhile, General Electric’s aerospace unit said it won new orders for 454 engines during the Dubai Airshow. This includes Emirates order of 202 additional GE9X engines to power its 777X aircraft and 240 CFM LEAP engines for Air Arabia to power the carrier’s order of 120 Airbus A320neo family of aircraft ordered in 2019.

Source: The National News

Google Maps to Remove Dangerous South African Route Following Tourist Incidents

In a significant move, Google has decided to eliminate a route to Nyanga, one of South Africa’s most violent townships, from its navigation platform, Google Maps. This decision comes in the wake of several dangerous incidents involving tourists who were directed to Nyanga as the shortest route to their destinations.

Incidents Prompting the Change

Among those affected was an American tourist, Walter Fischel, who was shot in the face and robbed, and a British surgeon who was tragically killed in August when they were inadvertently re-routed into the township due to road closures. These life-threatening situations highlighted the need for safer navigation systems and triggered Google’s decision to revisit its route recommendations.

Google’s Response and Future Plans

Responding to these incidents, Google is working in collaboration with the South African government and local authorities to understand crime hotspots. The tech giant plans to incorporate new security alerts in Google Maps to help users navigate safely. The partnership also involves digital training for tourism stakeholders and data sharing to provide an overview of tourism trends.

Impact on South African Tourism

The decision to remove potentially dangerous routes from Google Maps is seen as a part of a broader effort to boost South African tourism. South Africa’s Minister of Tourism, Patricia de Lille, co-signed the collaboration with the head of Google South Africa, Alistair Mokoena, with the objective of enhancing the safety and experience of local and international tourists. The move is expected to significantly increase the confidence of travelers relying on navigation systems like Google Maps while exploring South Africa.

Source: Bnn.

Kenya, Uganda to deepen tourism cooperation

Increased promotion of key tourism sites available in the two countries tipped to help increase the number of tourists between the two East African Community member states.

“A big section of the population, including tourism stakeholders, is not aware of the rich and diverse products in each other’s countries, even when the two countries remain each other’s top tourist source markets,” said John Mulimba, Uganda Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Regional Cooperation.

Speaking at the 2nd Uganda-Kenya Coast Tourism Conference in Kwale County, which targets to consolidate networks, synergies, and diversity to maximize the tourism potential between the two countries, Mulimba said the two countries still have untapped tourism potential which if well highlighted could boost the numbers.

“We can move beyond the 370,000 Kenyans who visited Uganda last year, and the 150,000 Ugandans who visited Kenya last year. All we need is to work together, to ensure that we make this partnership work,” he added.

Majority of Kenyans who visited Uganda last year visited for sporting events such as golf and rugby tournaments, festivals and music concerts.

Kenya intends to market its sandy beaches, marine parks, game drives, sky diving and deep seas diving among other tourism products in Uganda while the latter targets to market its mountain gorillas, tree climbing lions and over 1063 bird species in national parks to potential Kenyan visitors.

“The conference theme depicts the importance of building synergies and complementarity based on the different tourism products bought by Uganda and Kenya cost,” added Fatuma Achani, Governor of Kwale County.

Already, more than 200 delegations from Uganda are set to embark on a coastal tour to sample various products and create networks with their Kenyan counterparts.

Source: KBC.

Trevor Noah Launches Charm Offensive in FAQ Ad About South Africa

Trevor Noah, world-renowned comedian and 2024 Grammy nominee for best comedy album, has taken on a new title: ‘chief tourism comedian for South Africa.’

In a new tourism campaign entitled “The Best of Us,” launched in partnership with the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA) Thursday, Noah uses his unique brand of humor to tackle frequently asked questions about his homeland.

The campaign kicks off with Noah walking poolside at a holiday home with the iconic Table Mountain in the background as he addresses common misconceptions and queries, he often gets about South Africa. “How cold and snowy is your Christmas?” he jests, “Well, Tracy, unfortunately, we can’t afford snow in South Africa. Nah, I’m just playing. We’re in the southern hemisphere, which means when it’s freezing in Connecticut, it’s fantastic in Cape Town.”

Noah’s ad doesn’t just answer quirky questions; it also highlights South Africa’s diverse attractions, from spectacular wildlife scenes in Kruger National Park to adrenaline-packed activities like bungee jumping at Bloukrans Bridge, surfing in Durban’s Golden Mile, shark cage diving in Gansbaai, and high-end golf courses along the Garden Route.

The campaign aims to boost international tourism to South Africa, as the country targets 21 million visitors by 2035, according to TBCSA CEO Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa. Noah’s global appeal and South African roots make him an ideal ambassador to showcase the country’s diverse tourism offerings, added Tshivhengwa.

Last year, South Africa saw 5.8 million inbound international tourists. The country has seen a significant increase in arrivals this year, with over 6.1 million visitors by September, with its peak summer season still ahead. European and UK visitors remain the largest source market, with  862,000 arrivals between January and September, a 50.9% increase in arrivals compared to the same period in 2022. Furthermore, the Americas have shown a notable uptick in interest, with a 59.0% increase in arrivals, led primarily by 206,015 visitors from the United States between January and July.

The campaign debuted across social media platforms and garnered over 66,700 views on TBCSA’s YouTube channel shortly after its launch. Noah has over 8.6 million followers on Instagram and has just launched a podcast called What Now – he has, however, not yet shared the “The Best of Us” video to his Instagram grid.

Noah’s South Africa ad follows another tourism ad he did earlier in the year. Noah joined Switzerland tourism ambassador Roger Federer to promote train travel across the alpine nation, below.

Source: Skift

Free Routing Airspace in Africa inches closer to reality

Free Routing Airspace in Africa inches closer to reality with trial flights kicking off on November 2 2023.

Cooperation, collaboration, and commitment of stakeholders, including CANSO, AFRAA, IATA, ICAO, and Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs), made free routing flights a reality for the first time.

In the Free Routing Airspace (FRA) Trial kick-off workshop, participants coordinated with all relevant operational services and secured approvals for the two trial flights. Shortening the flight time, flights ET935 and KQ 508 operated safely outside the existing routes directly from Addis Ababa to Abidjan and Nairobi to Accra, respectively.

Implementing the Free Routing Airspace will annually bring significant cost savings to the participating airlines and will support a sustainable future for the African Industry. Cumulating over a year, the shortened flight time on one of these one-way flights avoids burning 292 metric tonnes of fuel, prevents the emission of 340 metric tonnes of CO2, and reduces the operator’s fuel bill by an estimated USD310,000. Assuming similar savings on the return leg, extending free routing flights to 20 daily flights, the operators’ CO2 footprint will be reduced by 5 million metric tonnes, and the airlines will cut more than USD 1.2 million from their fuel bill.

The project kick-off workshop was graciously sponsored by AFREXIMBANK. Various ANSPs provided navigation services to the historic flights, including: Ethiopia CAA, Kenya CAA, CAA Uganda, RVA (DRC), ASECNA, NAMA (Nigeria), and Ghana CAA.  The FRA project is one of the five LAB Projects of the African Aviation Industry Group African Aviation Sustainability Laboratory to revamp Air Transport in Africa that was held from 27 June to 1 July 2022 at AFRAA Headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya.  

The next trials in the first quarter will contribute to making the FRA a reality in 2024.

Source: Timesaerospace

South African Airways Resumes Direct Flights Between Johannesburg and São Paulo

After an almost four-year hiatus, South African Airways (SAA) has reintroduced its flights connecting Johannesburg and São Paulo. The reinstatement of this route signifies a pivotal moment for the airline, reestablishing crucial international connectivity between South Africa and Brazil.

As of Monday 6, the airline resumed operations on the Johannesburg-São Paulo route, utilizing the Airbus A330-300 for its service. SAA’s reservation system reflects the availability of two weekly flights to cater to travelers seeking connectivity between the two vibrant cities.

The flight schedule for this newly revived route is as follows

SA 222: Departure from Johannesburg (JNB) at 11:15, arrival at São Paulo (GRU) at 16:15.

SA 223: Departure from São Paulo (GRU) at 17:45, arrival in Johannesburg (JNB) at 07:45 the following day.

The frequency of flights on this route will be on Mondays and Thursdays, providing a convenient and consistent service for passengers eager to travel between these major destinations.

It’s important to note that this initiative is part of SAA’s efforts to expand its services and reconnect various international routes. In addition to the Johannesburg-São Paulo flights, South African Airways also offers flights to Guarulhos from Cape Town. The airline has adopted a twice-weekly schedule, deploying the same Airbus A330-300 aircraft for these operations.

The resumption of direct flights between Johannesburg and São Paulo is a significant move for South African Airways, marking the airline’s commitment to meeting the travel demands of passengers seeking connectivity and convenience between South Africa and Brazil. This reconnection not only facilitates easy travel for business and leisure but also strengthens the ties between the two vibrant nations. Stay tuned for more updates as South African Airways continues to expand and enhance its global network of flights.

Source: Airspace-Africa