TRAVEL IN STYLE FORMIA has introduced a new brand collaboration onboard American Airlines, making the airline the first to offer the supplier’s eye masks and socks made from 100 percent recycled PET fabrics

Travel in style

FORMIA has introduced a new brand collaboration onboard American Airlines, making the airline the first to offer eye masks and socks made from 100 percent recycled PET fabrics as part of its sustainability initiative

by JANE HOBSON

Airlines are busily realigning their brand with the ever-changing reality of post-pandemic travel, and for many, this means refocusing sustainability goals.

Last year FORMIA introduced its sustainability strategy to help airlines achieve their objectives while benefiting the environment and passengers. Headquartered in Hong Kong, the company opened an Americas office in the center of Manhattan earlier this year. Led by the New York team, FORMIA is bringing its sustainability strategy into the cabins of American Airlines.

The collaboration introduces amenity kits for premium cabin passengers in partnership with design brand Shinola and New York-based perfumers D.S. & Durga. The kits will roll out on flights between the US and London (LHR), with other long-haul international and transcontinental flights to follow throughout the summer.

“We are delighted to have brought together three strong brands to create a partnership that will give American Airlines’ passengers a truly unique and purposefully designed kit to take home and re-use,” said Roland Grohmann, CEO & Managing Partner of FORMIA. “We pride ourselves in curating meaningful products and experiences to enhance the customer journey and beyond, and are excited to support the launch of this industry-leading collection.”

The First Class International bag is available in navy and black pebble grain faux leather with end-to-end zip opening and spacious interior, ideal as a post-flight washbag. Bags for First Class Transcontinental and Business Class International pay homage to Shinola’s wristlet wallet, featuring canvas and faux leather, a splashproof inner lining and two stylish colors (olive and dark navy).

The Business Class Transcontinental and Premium Economy Class amenity bag echoes the distinctive wristlet wallet design in navy, featuring two zipper styles – a subtle, minimalist finish and a more playful contrasting color. Designed in partnership with Detroit-based Shinola and made from recycled PET felt fabric, the bags will satisfy travel smart, sustainability-minded passengers as a must-have accessory. Each bag includes skincare products from D.S. & Durga, with aromas Rose Atlantic and Radio Bombay in lip balms and lotions.

The kits make American the first airline to introduce eye masks and socks made from 100 percent PET fabrics as part of the first initiative of FORMIA’s sustainability strategy. strategy. The eye masks and socks will carry the Global Recycled Standard (GRS) international certification. FORMIA is absorbing the extra cost of the material, rendering the move to RPET fabric cost-neutral for airlines.

FORMIA has collaborated with American Airlines to bring luxury amenity kits into the cabin, in partnership with perfumers D.S. & Durga and Shinola, who has created desk clocks from the metal of retired aircraft

Time flies

As an extension of the partnership, Shinola is creating a desk clock featuring a dial made entirely from the original metal of American’s iconic, but now retired, fleet of McDonnell Douglas MD-80 aircraft. The MD-80s were the long-time backbone of American’s fleet before it was retired in 2019.

Shinola is creating a limited 1,000 desk clocks, some with a vintage American Airlines logo, some without. Later this summer, Shinola wall clocks will be featured in select Admirals Club lounges .

PASSENGER TRAFFIC HEADS EAST

Check-in area at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport

As much of the world shut down for the COVID19 pandemic, airports in China moved to the forefront in passenger traffic last year by RICK LUNDSTROM

After long dominating the world in yearly passenger traffic, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) slipped to second place in 2020 and was replaced at the top spot by Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN), logging more than 43.7 million passengers, compared to 42.9 million at ATL.

The pandemic shift in airline passenger movement does not stop there. Seven of the 10 top airports in passenger traffic for 2020 are located in China. One in particular, Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport jumped to sixth place all the way from 48th, moving nearly 35 million passengers last year, according to the yearly statistics compiled by Airports Council International.

ACI published the preliminary findings April 22, reflecting the dramatic impact of COVID-19 on what are ordinarily the world’s busiest airports. Global passenger traffic at the top 10 decreased by 45.7 percent in 2020. Overall, passenger traffic at the world’s airports decreased by 64.6 percent.

“What we know about the Top 10 this year, is that it was very much affected by uneven travel restrictions in different regions,” explains Patrick Lucas, Vice President of Economics at ACI in Montreal. While he says he expects ATL to return to the top spot for passenger traffic next year, airports in China, particularly Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) and the newly opened Beijing Daxing Airport (PKX) will remain in the Top 10.

As passenger traffic lagged through much of the world, air cargo movement performed well by comparison, posting only a 12 percent decline from 2019. By the end of 2020, ACI reported that cargo volume had rebounded to pre-pandemic levels. What will drive more tonnage will be an increase in capacity, says Lucas.

“Cargo should get a boost when belly capacity recovers with the restart of international travel, mostly operated by wide body,” he says. “Online retail should stay strong and the overall industry recovery will likely fuel the demand for air cargo.”

To increase the number of comfortable, confident passengers, groups like ACI are developing programs to stimulate demand by launching initiatives like the ACI Airport Health Accreditation Programme. They are also calling on world governments to reduce passengerbased taxes and economic regulation.

“Airports should be free to tailor the structure and level of airport charges to their specific circumstances and develop targeted pricing strategies that meet their specific market situations,” says Lucas.

Additionally, he says airports should have the freedom to set charges to cover operations and capital costs.

PASSENGER TRAFFIC

Rank Airport Number (millions)

2020 2019

2020 2019 1 11 Guangzhou (CAN) 43.7 73.3 2 1 Atlanta (ATL) 42.9 110.5 3 24 Chengdu (CTU) 40.7 55.8 4 10 Dallas/Ft. Worth (DFW) 39.3 75.0 5 26 Shenzhen (SZX) 37.9 52.9 6 48 Chongqing (CKG) 34.9 44.7 7 2 Beijing (PEK) 34.5 100.0 8 16 Denver (DEN) 33.7 69.0 9 37 Kunming (KMG) 32.9 48.0 10 46 Shanghai (SHA) 31.1 45.6