What travellers want, Christchurch 2040 plan, and more

What travellers want
More than 10,000 travellers responded to the International Air Transport Association’s 2017 Global Passenger Survey. Topping the list of traveller wants were:

• automation of more airport processes;
• a single identity token for all travel processes using biometric identification;
• real-time information sent directly to personal devices;
• more efficient security – without having to remove or unpack personal items; and 
• more seamless border control.

The survey found 82% of travellers would like to use a digital passport on their smartphones for as many travel activities as possible, from booking flights to passing through the airport. Biometric identification systems were the technology of choice with 64% favouring biometric identifiers as their preferred travel token.

Passenger growth to double
Meanwhile, another Iata report, the 20-Year Air Passenger Forecast, expects 7.8 billion passengers to travel in 2036, a near doubling of the four billion air travellers expected to fly this year.

“All indicators lead to growing demand for global connectivity,” director-general and CEO Alexandre de Juniac says. “The world needs to prepare for a doubling of passengers in the next 20 years. It’s fantastic news for innovation and prosperity, which is driven by air links. It is also a huge challenge for governments and industry to ensure we can successfully meet this essential demand.”

Christchurch unveils airport master plan
Evidence that a doubling of passengers is likely in the next couple of decades comes in Christchurch Airport's new 2040 master plan, which will cater for a near doubling of passenger growth from 6.3 million annually to 11.65 million.

Chief executive Malcolm Johns says this will see Memorial Ave extended to create a “grand avenue” to an expanded terminal (pictured above). Extensions will also be made to both runways to cater for larger and more frequent aircraft, without a need for major changes to the airfield or noise impacts in residential areas. 

“The airport is the South Island’s gateway for visitors, airfreight and business and by 2040 is projected to have 20,000 people working here,” he says. “Christchurch Airport is a leader in future thinking, as demonstrated through our partnership in the country’s first autonomous vehicle trial [pictured below] and the world-first partnership with Alibaba.” The airport generates $2.1 billion in regional GDP and that creates more than 60,000 jobs, he adds.

Dreamliner for Adelaide
Air New Zealand has introduced a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner to its Auckland-Adelaide service, bringing Business Premier and Premium Economy seating on the route for the first time. The bigger aircraft will operate three times a week until March 25, 2018. This will increase capacity by up to 23% over the peak season. Dreamliner flights will be complemented by A320 services.

Trump seals the deal
In a deal big enough to be signed in the White House, Singapore Airlines (SIA) agreed to buy $US13.8 billion worth of Boeing’s long-range aircraft. The order for 20 Boeing 777-9 and 19 B787-10 Dreamliners comes on top of a previous one for 30 of the Dreamliners. SIA is the launch customer and the first was rolled out of the final assembly facility in South Carolina earlier this month. President Donald Trump joined the signing by SIA chief executive Goh Choon Phong and Boeing Commercial Airplanes president and CEO Kevin McCalister, Mr Trump said the deal would employ 70,000 jobs. The 777-9s are intended primarily for long-haul routes and are due for delivery from the 2021/22 financial year. The 787-10s are to be operated on medium-range routes and are due for delivery from the 2020/21 financial year.

More screening for US-bound travel
Five major global airlines – Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Air France, Lufthansa Group and Egyptair – have started new pre-flight security screening procedures that have been imposed on all travel to the US. These include passenger interviews, using questionnaires, during check-in or before boarding, and more intensive searches of luggage and electronic devices. The main US carriers, American, United and Delta, are also affected. Royal Jordanian will introduce the measures in mid-January.

The airlines have requested passengers to check in at least three hours before their flights. The measures come on top of others already in force. In March, US officials introduced the laptop ban in the cabins of some Middle Eastern airlines over concerns Muslim terrorists could hide bombs inside of them. The ban was lifted after those airlines began using devices like CT scanners to examine electronics before passengers boarding. 

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