Transportation Information Update, April 2015
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Transportation Information Update * “This attached Transportation Information Update was prepared by Joseph Monteiro and Gerald Robertson for the Canadian Transportation Research Forum and distributed to CILTNA’s members with permission” Editor: Joseph Monteiro* April 2015, No. 128 Associate Editor: Gerald Robertson* AIR TRANSPORTATION 1. Canada’s Airports Chart Course for the Future AIR Recommendations to support globally competitive service standards for TRANSPORTATION security screening, reinvestment of aviation fees and taxes back into the Canada system, and infrastructure program improvements for small airports, are 1. Canada’s Airports Chart Course for among the areas of focus unveiled on March 26, 2015 by the Canadian the Future, March 26, 2015, March 26, 2015, www.cacairports.ca Airports Council as part of its submission to a review panel studying 2. Transportation Safety Board has Canada’s transportation policy. “Canada today is more heavily reliant been warning about runway accidents on aviation than ever before,” said John Gibson, chair of the CAC. since 2010, March 30, 2015, “Canada’s airports may face important challenges, but also important www.nationalpost.ca 3. WestJet announces SmartSeats April opportunities for growth – particularly in international markets – if 1, 2015, www.westjet.ca Canada can become more innovative and competitive in aviation.” 4. Timing of Lunar New Year and US Headed up by the Honourable David Emerson, the Canada Port Congestion Boosts February Air Transportation Act (CTA) Review Panel is slated to conclude its work Freight, April 1, 2015, www.iata.org 5. Lunar New Year Travel Adds to later this year. The CAC submission, Connecting Canada: An Aviation Strong Traffic Growth in February, Policy Agenda for Global Competitiveness and Economic Prosperity April 2, 205, www.iata.org contains 20 policy recommendations around security screening, 6. U.S. West Coast port congestion economic competitiveness, border policies, airport policies and air boosts demand for air cargo, April 1, 2015, www.nationalpost.ca policy liberalization. 7 Air Canada Responds to 2. Transportation Safety Board has been warning about runway Developments at the Toronto Port accidents since 2010 Authority: No Support for Jets at Billy The Transportation Safety Board (TSB) has been warning about the Bishop, April 2, 2015, www.aircanda.ca potential for runway accidents at Canada’s airports since 2010, calling it 8. Air Canada Reports March Load one of the “issues posing the greatest risk to Canada’s transportation Factor on Record Volume of system.” Following the botched landing of an Air Canada plane in Passengers, April 6, 2015, Halifax during the weekend, a prominent Canadian pilot says he shares www.aircanada.ca 9. WestJet reports March load factor of those concerns and wants to see new safety measures implemented. The 81.3 per cent, April 6, 2015, TSB, an independent government agency that investigates accidents www.westjet.ca such as the one that occurred Saturday night, injuring 25, has made 10. WestJet Airlines Ltd shares tumble runway safety one of its top “watchlist” issues. as planes fly with more empty seats, April 6, 2015, www.nationalpost.ca 3. WestJet announces SmartSeats 11. FedEx seals $4.8 billion acquisition WestJet announced on April 1, 2015 SmartSeats , a new concept in of TNT Express, April 7, 2015, boarding its aircraft that could change the way people fly. The www.joc.com SmartSeats concept is simple; the seats in the lounge are the seats on the 12. FedEx to buy TNT for $4.8-billion to expand European deliveries, April 7, aircraft. Guests ride the SmartSeats directly between the boarding 2015, www.globeandmail.ca lounge and the plane. The SmartSeats project team created a brief video 13. Civil aviation operating statistics, now available on WestJet's YouTube channel and Facebook page to January 2015, April 9, 2015, assist in explaining the concept. www.statcan.gc.ca 14. Airlines Report Sixteen Tarmac 4. Timing of Lunar New Year and US Port Congestion Boosts Delays Over Three Hours on Domestic February Air Freight Flights, Eight Tarmac Delays Longer The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released 2015 Than Four Hours on International February data for global air freight markets showing a sharp increase in Flights in February, April 8, 2015, www.dot.gov year-on-year air freight volumes. Growth measured by freight tonne 15. Contract awarded for the kilometers (FTK) was up 11.7% in February 2015, compared to reconstruction of Wabush Airport February 2014. Capacity grew 7.4%. Much of the impressive February runway, April 13, 2015, www.tc.gc.ca * The views indicated are those of the authors and not of Industry Canada or the CTRF. 1 result is due to the timing of the Lunar New Year activities. Air freight is given a strong boost in the weeks leading up to the holiday, which last 16. Air Canada Confirms Ratification of New Contract with International year fell in January. In addition, air freight volumes were enhanced by Brotherhood of Teamsters, April 14, the consequences of congestion at US West Coast ports. 2015, www.aircanada.ca 5. Lunar New Year Travel Adds to Strong Traffic Growth in 17. News Brief: IATA Launches February Standard Safety Assessment Program, April 14, 2015, www.iata.org The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced global 18. WestJet arrives today. Are you passenger traffic results for February 2015 showing a strengthening in ready, Freddy?, April 15, 2015, demand growth compared to February 2014. Total revenue passenger www.westjet.ca kilometers (RPKs) rose 6.2%, which was an improvement on the 19. January 2015 U.S. Airline Traffic Data, April 16, 2015, www.dot.gov January 2015 year-over-year increase of 4.5%. Monthly results were 20. IATA quarterly survey shows positively impacted by the Lunar New Year holiday which occurred in positive outlook, April 16, 2015, February this year, one month later than in 2014. February 2015 www.ctl.ca capacity (available seat kilometers or ASKs) increased by 5.6%, and 21. Civil aviation operating statistics, February 2015, April 21, 2015, load factor rose 0.5 percentage points to 78.5%. www.statcan.gc.ca 6. U.S. West Coast port congestion boosts demand for air cargo 22. Porter breezes into Mont Tremblant More shippers are flying their goods to market despite higher costs, with summer service, April 20, 2015, leapfrogging the ongoing delays at West Coast ports that have hindered www.flyporter.ca 23. New national safety standard for the movement of merchandise since before Christmas. This could prove offshore helicopter operations, April 22, beneficial to airlines like Air Canada that have more space in the bellies 2016, www.tc.gc.ca of their passenger planes than ever before. Air freight volumes jumped 24. February 2015 Passenger Airline 11.7% in February 2015 compared to a year earlier, according to data Employment Data, April 23, 2015, www.dot.gov released on April 1, 2015 by the International Air Transport Association. 25. 4th-Quarter 2014 Air Fare Data, 7 Air Canada Responds to Developments at the Toronto Port April 28, 2015, www.dot.gov Authority: No Support for Jets at Billy Bishop 26. Vegas is in the cards for Air Canada’s position on the Master Plan for the Billy Bishop Toronto Abbotsford, April 28, 2015, www.westjet.ca City Airport by the Toronto Port Authority is as follows: 1. No Jets - 27. Is Air Canada the best airline stock "We do not support jets at Billy Bishop - we prefer to see a growing in North America? Analysts forecast downtown airport focused on short haul passengers using modern turbo- 48% rally over next 12 months, prop aircraft, which would be more consistent with the spirit and intent National Post, April 28, 2015, www.nationalpost.ca of the original tripartite agreement at Billy Bishop.” 2. Access to Slots - "We want fair and appropriate access to slots for Air Canada and other carriers to encourage real competition at Billy Bishop, similar to the situation that we fi nd at other airports across the country where Porter has the ability to commence jet service at any time…” Porter Air now has 85% of the slots. 3. Terminal Rates and Charges - "We want a terminal rates and charges methodology that is significantly lower at this facility, more in keeping with rates and charges at other airports in Canada and the United States...” 8. Air Canada Reports March Load Factor on Record Volume of Passengers For the month of March 2015, Air Canada reported a system load factor of 83.1 per cent, versus 81.7 per cent in March 2014, on a system-wide capacity increase of 11.1 per cent. On this additional capacity, system wide traffic for March increased 12.9 per cent for the month. Air Canada reports traffic results on a system-wide basis, including regional airlines from which Air Canada purchases capacity and Air Canada rouge . For the first quarter of 2015, load factor increased 1.2 points, ASM increased 9.3% and RPM increased 10.9 %. 9. WestJet reports March load factor of 81.3 per cent WestJet on April 6, 2015 announced March 2015 traffic results with a load factor of 81.3 per cent down 2.7 points from the same month a year ago. Revenue passenger miles (RPMs), or traffic, increased 1.5 per cent year-over-year, and capacity, measured in available seat miles (ASMs), grew 4.8 per cent over the same period. For the first quarter of 2015, load factor was down 1.5 points, ASM increased 4.7% and RPM increased 2.8 %. 10. WestJet Airlines Ltd shares tumble as planes fly with more empty seats Sun-seeking travellers have more choice than ever before, but the crowded market is taking its toll on WestJet Airlines Ltd., which saw its shares battered on April 6, 2015 after reporting that its planes flew with more empty seats in the first quarter.