Increasing number of passengers The US airlines lack pilots

As of: 22.06.2021 10:05 a.m.

The number of air travelers in the US is rapidly increasing again. In the meantime, the remaining pilots at some airlines are no longer sufficient to carry out all the planned flights.

By Torsten Teichmann, ARD studio Washington

The US airline Delta is looking for staff again. 1000 pilots are to be hired in the coming months. A year ago, in the middle of the corona pandemic and with constantly falling passenger numbers, the airline threatened to fire 1,700 pilots. In the end, the airline forced the unions to accept indirect wage cuts. Now Delta could even have to pay more for new employees in order to find staff again.

American Airlines is canceling flights as a precaution

American Airlines has similar problems. Especially on weekends, the number of pilots who have already been trained and tested is apparently not enough. In the event of delays and bad weather, flights are canceled because pilots would otherwise exceed their working hours and there is no one who can take over the shift. Now American canceled almost 1,000 flights for July as a precaution. The staffing level is so tight that the airline has been overwhelmed by rising demand and its own ambitious plans. The Wall Street Journal reports that there is also a frequent lack of ground crews to refuel aircraft.

Vacation trips partly at pre-crisis level

The number of vacationers in the US could return to pre-pandemic levels this month for some airlines. Delta expects the restrictions on transatlantic traffic to fall in the second half of the year. So far, travelers from Schengen countries such as Germany are still banned from entering the USA. US President Joe Biden has not yet announced that he will change anything

Less emissions Merkel urges aviation to innovate

Status: 06/18/2021 8:35 p.m.

“As soon as possible”: Chancellor Merkel called for speed in innovations at the National Aviation Conference. Air traffic must quickly become lower in emissions. The industry is hoping for the summer business. The aviation industry and politics want to promote “green” flying in Germany with state funding. After the pandemic, all economic policy measures would have to be aligned with climate targets, said Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) at the National Aviation Conference in Berlin. “As for other industries, climate neutrality is a very ambitious goal for aviation,” said Merkel. To achieve this, there must be innovations, for example in drive systems and infrastructure – “and not at some point, but as quickly as possible”. Because the product cycles in aviation are very long.

Emission-free flying

In addition to the restart of the industry, which was badly shaken by the corona crisis, the focus of the industry summit at the capital airport BER was above all the path of aviation to emission-free flying. The airlines are focusing on the development of sustainable fuels as well as new, more economical aircraft and even electric aircraft. Representatives of the industry associations BDL, BDLI as well as the industry giants Airbus and Lufthansa repeated that this was a joint task of business and politics – and that is why public funds were necessary to kick-start innovations. The federal government is already investing billions in funding into the development of emission-free kerosene and clean aircraft technology. “At the moment, prices and quantities leave a lot to be desired,” said Merkel, referring to lower-emission fuels. Here you have to come to competitive terms. With extensive funding, alternative fuels based on electricity could also be ramped up on the market. Lufthansa boss Carsten Spohr said that synthetic alternatives to kerosene are around five times more expensive than fossil fuel today, and that PtL kerosene costs ten times as much. “No airline can afford that.”

No competitive disadvantage

With regard to the new climate regulations for European aviation expected by the EU in July, the Federal Government believes that stricter climate protection rules do not result in a competitive disadvantage compared to airlines abroad with lower standards. Merkel warned that there should be no distortions in the competitive struggle and no double burdens.

Aviation in Europe has been participating in CO2 emissions trading (ETS) since 2012, and the Corsia CO2 compensation system is to be introduced on a global level. “ETS plus Corsia does not work,” said Federal Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer (CSU). Corsia is the right instrument. The EU Commission considers this to be the weaker system.

Lufthansa wants to repay corona aid

Lufthansa was in dire straits due to the collapse of passenger flights in the Corona crisis and had to be supported by Germany and the countries of its subsidiary airlines with a financial framework of nine billion euros. Germany accounted for a total of 6.8 billion euros of the state rescue package for Lufthansa. The company has now announced that it intends to repay the state funds soon. “We were one of the first companies that was saved by the federal government. We also want to be one of the first companies to pay back the rescue funds – hopefully before the general election,” said CEO Spohr. The federal government, which in addition to loans and silent participation became Lufthansa’s largest shareholder with the rescue operation, wanted the state to withdraw “as soon as possible,” said Scheuer. With the help, the airline must get back on the road to success as quickly as possible. “And the state has to get out of there,” emphasized the minister.

Industry hopes for summer business

After the dry spell in the Corona crisis, aviation is relying on a recovery in summer business. According to the Federal Government’s Aviation Commissioner, new virus mutations could slow down the long-awaited restart. “At the moment there is great optimism and bookings are going through the roof,” said aerospace coordinator Thomas Jarzombek of the Reuters news agency. But everything depends on the infection situation. “Of course, there is now the delta variant as an uncertain component.” You can see in the UK that this delayed openings after the lockdown

Aviation industry Corona isn’t the only problem

Status: 06/18/2021 6:46 a.m.

Aviation has been hit particularly hard by the Corona crisis. But the industry is also under pressure when it comes to climate protection. Will the change now succeed?

From Michael Immel, ARD aviation expert

The mood in the aviation industry has brightened. Because quite a few planes are filling up again, and many people are looking forward to their summer vacation. And so bookings are going through the roof almost everywhere these days: Lufthansa, Eurowings and Condor – all are experiencing a huge summer trend.

Will the first be the last?

The “National Aviation Conference”, which today is attended by top representatives from politics, business and trade unions at Berlin-Brandenburg Airport, wants to continue this positive trend. But it won’t be easy. Even if capacity utilization is now increasing sharply: over the year as a whole, the aviation industry will probably only end up at 40 to 50 percent of the pre-crisis level. Lufthansa boss Carsten Spohr had already stated last spring: “We were the first industry to be affected by this global crisis and aviation will be one of the last to leave it.”

Remove travel restrictions

In the joint declaration on the aviation conference to be signed in Berlin today, it is therefore stated: “After around 15 months of almost total standstill, the German air transport system is suffering from massive economic losses. Therefore, further decisions and measures are necessary to revive air traffic to support.”

It is primarily about travel restrictions that are to be lifted gradually. And to simplify travel, in particular through a digital vaccination certificate for proof of vaccination, recovery and test results. This should accelerate the processes at the airports.

Successful and sustainable

In the nine-page paper that tagesschau.de is available, the main focus is on a green strategy for the German aviation industry. The revival should be based entirely on sustainability. Climate protection, eco-efficiency and sustainable competitiveness: These are the future topics for the entire industry – which has also understood that lip service alone will not be enough in the future.

“An essential instrument for climate protection in air traffic is the rapid and continuous renewal of the aircraft fleets”, it says in the Berlin declaration. New commercial aircraft would emit up to 25 percent less CO2 than the previous generation. With the collapse of air traffic, however, the renewal of the fleet has largely come to a standstill. “That is why the federal government has initiated a funding program to provide an economic incentive for the fleet renewal. We are continuing to advocate for the rapid approval of the program under state aid law during this legislative period.”

Criticism from unions

Meanwhile, in the run-up to the aviation conference, there is massive criticism from unions. According to the ver.di survey, 16 percent of the workforce have left air transport since the beginning of the pandemic. “The numbers of downsizing are frightening,” said Mira Neumaier, ver.di federal specialist group leader for aviation, who is also taking part in the aviation conference today.

“In view of the extremely thin workforce even before the start of the pandemic and the great stress situation for the employees, it is to be feared that a regulated restart in air traffic – even at 50 percent of the pre-crisis level – will no longer be affordable.”

Securing jobs

“It is not enough to save corporations,” warns Stefan Herth, president of the cockpit pilots’ union. “The short-time work allowance was an important measure in the acute crisis. What we now need is the sustainable safeguarding of jobs. In the past year and a half, politics has shown too little commitment here,” said Herth.

As a major shareholder, the federal government also has the responsibility not to lose sight of the well-being of employees when making important business decisions. “Wage dumping and social cuts at state expense must not be accepted anywhere.”

More climate-friendly flying Less emissions thanks to biofuel

Status: 06/17/2021 6:04 p.m.

Contrails on the horizon show: An airplane was traveling here. But they also say something about the emissions that are released when flying. A new study shows: biofuel is more climate-friendly.

From Iris Völlnagel, SWR

You can see them most clearly in the early hours of the morning: Since more planes have started taking off from Frankfurt Airport, the contrails in the sky over Mainz have been thickening. They seem harmless, but climate researchers have long been concerned about them. Not because they are so-called chemtrails, as some conspiracy tellers suspect, but because they contribute to global warming. Because: Even before CO2, contrails cause the largest share of global warming through aviation. This is what researchers from the German Aerospace Center (DLR) found out together with NASA.

Contrails become “warming” clouds

While in flight, aircraft emit black carbon particles – so-called soot particles – because the fuel is not completely burned. In addition to soot, aircraft exhaust also contain water vapor. At high altitudes, where the air is very cold, the water condenses on the particles and freezes. At an altitude between 8,000 and 12,000 meters, ice crystals form, which we see as contrails. These ice crystals can last for several hours and form high clouds – so-called contrail cirrus. Depending on the position of the sun and the surface, they have a warming or cooling effect. Research shows that global warming effects predominate.

Mixed fuel helps the climate

For years, scientists at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) have been researching, in collaboration with NASA, whether airplanes run on biofuel in a more environmentally friendly way. With their experiments, the scientists were able to prove that using a 50-50 mixture of kerosene and sustainable fuel can reduce the number of ice crystals in the contrails by half.

“We were able to clearly demonstrate that fewer soot particles in the exhaust gases through sustainable fuels result in fewer ice crystals in contrails,” says Christiane Voigt from the DLR Institute for Atmospheric Physics. “A smaller number of ice crystals reduces the additional energy input into the atmosphere caused by contrails. This significantly reduces the climate-warming effect of the contrail clouds.” The scientists assume a percentage of 20 to 30 percent.

Flying for Science

The scientists had already carried out the tests in 2018. For this purpose, the DLR research aircraft ATRA, an Airbus A320, flew from the US military base Ramstein in Rhineland-Palatinate with various fuel mixtures over Germany. It was followed with a one to two minute delay by NASA’s CD-8 research aircraft. With the help of measuring devices, the scientists from NASA, DLR and the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry were able to record data on emissions and contrails. They also tried different fuel blends – including a sustainable biofuel.

There are now individual attempts by the airlines to refuel their planes with biofuel. In May 2021, Air France announced its first long-haul flight from Paris to Montreal, Canada, using partially sustainable fuel made from cooking oil. During the test flight, there was kerosene and 16 percent biofuel in the tank. So far, a maximum of 50 percent biofuel has been allowed in aircraft, says Martin Kaltschmitt, head of the Institute for Environmental Technology and Energy Economics at the Technical University of Hamburg.

The challenge of fuel development

The greatest challenge on the way to climate-friendly flying is the development of biofuel, say scientists. Biofuel, so-called Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), is currently mainly produced from old vegetable and edible oils. In contrast to conventional kerosene based on mineral oil, biofuels are not subsidized and are much more expensive, also because they can only be produced in small quantities.

“Bio-based fuels will not be the only solution. With bio-based fuel, we don’t get the amount we need,” says Patrick Le Clercq, ECLIF project manager at the DLR Institute for Combustion Technology in Stuttgart. The future also lies with hydrogen, believes Le Clerq. In further experiments, the scientists from DLR and NASA now want to investigate how one hundred percent biofuel affects the atmosphere

Accordingly, the routes of Hai Phong, Da Lat, Vinh – Phu Quoc, each route have a frequency of four round-trip flights / week. Flights depart on Sundays 2, 4, 6 and Sunday from April 25, and then increase to seven round-trip flights per week from June 1, 2021. The route Da Nang – Phu Quoc, with a frequency of four round-trip flights / week, departs on days 2, 4, 6 and Sunday from April 23. On this occasion, the airline deployed a special price of 546,000 VND / way for customers buying tickets from now to May 8, 2021, applicable to the flight itinerary in the period from April 23 to May 8, 2021, except for the high stage. point. Airlines focus on opening flight routes to Ngoc Phu Quoc Island, on the occasion of April 30. Photo: FOLLOWER Similarly, Vietjet airline also announced to open five routes from Da Nang, Thanh Hoa, Nha Trang, Da Lat and Vinh to Phu Quoc. In which, routes Vinh – Phu Quoc are exploited from 28-3, routes Da Nang, Thanh Hoa – Phu Quoc exploited from 2-4. Routes Nha Trang – Phu Quoc, Da Lat – Phu Quoc are exploited daily from April 29. The representative of this company said that flights being exploited from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong to Phu Quoc and other routes were also increased. Similarly, Bamboo Airways also opened two routes from Thanh Hoa, Vinh to Phu Quoc. In particular, the route Vinh – Phu Quoc exploits from April 17 to August 15 with a frequency of three round-trip flights / week. From April 16 to August 15, this company will operate again Thanh Hoa – Phu Quoc route with a frequency of 4 round-trip flights / week. As noted by PLO On the occasion of April 30, an average of 16 flights per day from Hanoi to Phu Quoc, of which Vietjet operates the most with eight flights. The route of Ho Chi Minh City – Phu Quoc near the April 30 ceremony, the operating frequency increased significantly with nearly 40 flights / day compared to normal fluctuations of 26-30 flights / day. Thus, with the bustling frequency of exploitation on the route to Ngoc Phu Quoc Island, the fare is three times higher than usual. For example, from April 29, the ticket price from Hanoi to Phu Quoc jumped from 1.5 to 4 million VND / ticket / afternoon. Similarly, from Ho Chi Minh City, the ticket price ranges from 1-2 million VND.

There are many ways to “chill” after work, some people choose to go home to relax in a warm room or with friends to drink, watch movies, drink coffee and chat … I often find a private place with good space to escape the noisy city and enjoy cocktails in colors that match the mood of the day. In the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, it is not difficult to find a bar, but want to go to a quiet location with soothing music, quality drinks suitable for “chill”, you can refer to the list below. I arrived at 52/3 Kitchen & Bar at the beginning of the week, there are many choices of seats because the bar is quite empty. This place is located in an old house in a small alley in the city center, spacious space, decorated simply but luxuriously with the main dark paint color. As the name suggests, the main idea of ​​the restaurant is to use recipes and ingredients available in the kitchen to prepare unique cocktails. Names of beverages that create a sense of closeness to Vietnamese people such as pho, glutinous rice, bread, toads, coconut snails, sour soup, perilla rice, cumin, kitchen buffalo … These drinks do not appear in the menu because the bartender created and named it on the spot. The bartender uses a variety of Vietnamese wine, soaked with vegetables such as perilla, dill, corn, chili … to create a new flavor. Every Wednesday and Thursday, the bar has Jazz live performances on the 1st floor. Suggested drink: Bespoke cocktail, brandy crusta, rose garden, sticky flowers … Inthe MOOD’s design is inspired by Hong Kong (China) films. The name of the restaurant is also derived from the movie In the mood for love (2000) by Vuong Gia Ve. Coming here, guests will feel lost in fragrant Port. The space of the restaurant has a romantic vibe from the layout of red lights to privately designed seats, suitable for dating couples. I am impressed by the whiskey menu here is made based on the taste, mood, and feelings of the enjoyer. Flavor groups include fruit, flowers, sherry, smoke, wood – malt. The emotional group includes Chilling Time, Classic Mind, Brave Heart, Misty Malt, and Glorious Bastards. Cocktails are divided according to the historical period of this drink in America. You can choose a cocktail flavor according to 3 phases: Before the alcohol ban (1860-1919), during the alcohol ban (1920-1933), after the alcohol ban (1934 up to now). Suggested drink: Kinds of emotional wishky Drinking & Healing is located on the 2nd floor of a hundred year old building located at the corner of Ham Nghi Street and Ho Tung Mau. Contrary to the narrow entrance, the space behind the heavy wooden door is a spacious and modern bar. This site is industrial-style with brick walls and surrounded by iron bars. The bar has an outdoor seating area, observing the bustling Bitexco building and Ho Tung Mau street. I do not like this seat, because it is the corner for those wishing to take check-in pictures. I prefer a private seat inside or close to the bar to watch the bartenders show off their bartender skills. If you are a fan of tonic alcohol, Drinking & Healing will not disappoint you when there are 15 different types. In addition, the menu of the bar also has a variety of spirits (spirit) including whiskey, rum, tequila, seductive cocktails and some kinds of wine flavored fruits and herbs prepared by the bar. In addition to the rich beverage menu, this address makes diners curious when the bartender here is called a “healer” – the mood healer. Drinking & Healing drinks are served in the spirit of soothing guests’ emotions. Depending on the mood of the diners, the flavor and color of each cocktail is prepared in its own way. Suggested drinks : Margarita, blue horse, New York sour, aviation … Rabbit Hole owns a quiet space in contrast to the busy Nam Ky Khoi Nghia street in the city center. The shop is located in the basement of a building. The space inside is designed like typical bars in the US and Japan with modern style, sophistication, and gentle light. The bartender here serves guests from classic cocktails to creations according to their own preferences. Here, you should try the signature cocktails of the restaurant, named after the character from the Alice in wonderland story. On Sunday night, this place usually takes place live music parties, visitors come quite crowded. Suggested drink: Emotional cocktails Different from the luxury of many bars, The Iron Bank – Cocktail Vault gives me a sense of closeness, simplicity, rusticness from deep-colored interiors, small candlelight, green pots … Cocktails here are diverse, divided into 3 main groups. New Money includes 20 cocktails with its own flavor. Old Money is a collection of classic drinks. Local Cocktails are unique wines formulated based on traditional Vietnamese wine. The staff here is enthusiastic, the bartenders talk openly with the guests, suggesting the type of wine based on taste and mood. The space is a bit tight, so it is difficult to find comfortable seats when arriving on the weekends. Suggested drink: Pina colanada, classic cocktails …