AFRICA Offers Huge Potential for Aviation

Boeing has said there is huge opportunity in Africa for the aviation sector, valuing it at UK£343 billion. It has predicted that Africa’s commercial airline fleet will grow to over 1,560 planes in the next 20 years.

Africa is projected to see 3% annual economic growth over the next two decades. The African Continental Free Trade Area and Single African Air Transport Market initiatives will also advance trade, air travel, and economic cooperation, all leading to growth. With the working and middle-class population of the continent expected to double in the next 20 years, that will boost the demand for air travel.

QATAR AND THE EU SIGN AGREEMENT

Qatar and the European Union (EU) have signed a Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement that will ensure the highest level of safety and security, while enhancing connectivity and freedom of movement for travellers.

As both are strategic partners and the relationship between both parties has been very close since June 2016, after the European Commission obtained authorisation from the EU Council to negotiate this Aviation Agreement.

This Aviation Agreement represents the new global benchmark for aviation agreements, providing a single set of rules, high standards and a platform for future cooperation on a wide range of aviation issues, like safety, security, environment, competition, consumer protection, social matters, and air traffic management.

BELLWETHER INDUSTRIES UNVAILS PRIVATE URBAN AIRCRAFT AT DUBAI AIR SHOW

Bellwether is to showcase its vision for urban air mobility. For its 1st ever public viewing, the prototype will be displayed at the Dubai Air Show, which takes place from 14th-18th November. It features a different colourway and will have better control capabilities and structural optimisation.

Started in 2013, Bellwether Industries initially began developing a hovercraft project known as Gazelle, which was put on display at YODEX in Taipei, Taiwan, in 2015. In 2018, the company started work on Project Antelope - its vertical take-off and landing vehicle known as a ‘volar’.

Volar is defined as a new category of private urban aircraft for intra-city travel, which has a hidden propulsion system, a very compact profile, a lifting body and the ability to take off and land vertically. It is being tailored for transporting passengers into the cities, with deep considerations for safety and environmental impact.

Bellwether Industries has already completed multiple test flights of its prototypes since last year, which monitored control capabilities. It will reveal a new generation of its volar model next year and plans to bring the first commercial model to market by 2028.

AIR TRANSAT TO FLY FROM QUEBEC CITY TO LONDON GATWICK

Air Transat is to fly non-stop between Quebec City and London from 11 May to 28 September 2022. The new route will benefit tourists wanting to discover both Quebec, London and beyond.

Quebec-London passengers will fly on the new-generation Airbus A321neo LR aircraft, which are part of the company’s ongoing efforts in responsible tourism, including achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. They consume 15% less fuel, and reduce both noise and NOx greenhouse gas emissions by half.

Air Transat’s international expansion also sees other direct flights out of Quebec City for summer 2022 to Paris, Fort Lauderdale, Cancun and Punta Cana.