E2 ARRIVES IN E16 Embraer flagship jet

in Docklands debut

From Today's Gateways

to the World www. Key. Aer o

SPACE RACE Why Victorville is looking beyond

storage and scrapping
UAV testing
Film sets
Space tech
Cargo hub

FROST BERN
Swiss capital frozen out by rivals

PLUS
BERLIN BOUNCE BACK?
January / February 2022 Issue 99 UK £5.99

01

Brandenburg boss shares big ambitions for 2022 9 771747 439156

5 News
Airports of the World’s comprehensive coverage
of global news, including Hong Kong’s third Subscribe to Airports of the World and
runway preparations, the Kenyan Airports make great savings. See pages 30-31
Authority auctions off abandoned airliners, for more details.
and ground has been broken on Pittsburgh’s
new terminal

20 London City’s E2 debut

The launch of scheduled services by the Brazilian
Embraer E190-E2 jet brings high hopes of
efficiency gains for London’s most central airport

26 A delight from the City of Light

Ron Mak delves into his archive to offer a
selection of Parisian propliners and jets from
Le Bourget between 1970 and 1980

32 Runway to recovery
November’s inter airport Europe event defied
the odds and delivered an important opportunity
for the industry to reconnect following the
effects of the COVID-19 pandemic

36 Fit for the German capital

Berlin’s Brandenburg Airport may once have
been best known for its much-delayed opening,
but we speak to COO Patrick Muller about
the German hub’s grand ambitions after an
exceptionally tricky first year

45 Sustainability news
With the Cop26 conference in the rear-view
mirror, we take a look at what airports have been
doing to improve their green credentials

48 Airports, decoded
We all know the difference between LHR
and LGW, but sometimes it’s difficult to tell
your ARS (Aragarças, Brazil) from your LBO
(Lusambo, Democratic Republic of the Congo).
Tom Batchelor sheds light on the weird and
wonderful world of airport codes

52 A capital conundrum
Bern-Belp Airport serves the capital of
Switzerland, yet, contrary to its status, the
gateway has had to fight hard to maintain its
existence even before the onset of COVID-19

58 Exotic escapades
Jim Parsons shares images from a December
2019 visit to Yangon International Airport – the 72
main gateway to its namesake city and the
country of Myanmar (formerly Burma)
20 32
62 Cool under pressure
Snow is falling all around and even airports
not historically affected by the white stuff are
rethinking their winter processes.
Tom Batchelor looks at the measures European
facilities are taking to remain operational all the
year round

68 UK visitors
A selection of the more interesting aircraft
recently seen visiting airports across the UK

72 More than meets the sky

Southern California Logistics Airport, better
known as Victorville, is far more than an aviation
retirement home. Chris Sloan travels to this
quirky desert facility to learn more

2 airports of the world // January - February 2022

 36

48

52

62

www.key.aero 3
Gordon Smith
Editor-at-large H
Welcome ello and welcome to your
January/February 2022 issue
of Airports of the World. We may
be entering a new year, but
a 2021 hangover is likely to persist as
Martin Needham uncertainty hampers the recovery of the
Executive Editor airport and wider aviation sector.
As we go to press, the threat posed
Thomas Lee by the newly discovered Omicron
coronavirus variant remains unclear.
Assistant Editor
However, it has already been enough
to spook the industry and global
Carol Randall
governments are once again imposing
Associate Editor
travel bans and fortifying entry
requirements. Policies and procedures
Tracey Croft
that we hoped were in the rear-view
Andy O'Neil mirror have staged a rather unwelcome
Lee Howson encore and leave the delicate aviation
Designers ecosystem facing ever-changing public
health measures.
Andy Mason Operations teams at airports around
Advertising the world are doing a fantastic job
Manager keeping pace with regulations and
guidance that change on a weekly – if
Cover image: not daily – basis. My business trip earlier
AirTeamImages/ this week is a slightly extreme, but not
Ido Wachtel atypical example of just how fluid the
situation is for airports, airlines and
This image: passengers. What should have been a
AirTeamImages.com/
reasonably simple return journey from
Matthias Geiger
Lisbon to London (with no testing or
self-isolation requirements) became
something far more complex and
stressful. Just a few days before my
4 airports of the world // January - February 2022
flight, rules were announced marking
the return of inbound COVID-19 testing
for those entering Portugal.
This meant an annoying, but not
insurmountable, scramble to find a
test in England. After some research,
I booked in at the Collinson test
centre at London City Airport as it had
great appointment availability and
an easy reservation system. I was in
and out within 15 minutes and had my
results (and the all-important ‘fit to fly’
certification) in my email inbox within
another half-hour. Ultimately, I chalked
this up as a bit of extra admin but an
important contribution towards keeping
the virus at bay. On top of robust checks
at the gate at London/Stansted, teams
in Lisbon verified paperwork before we
were allowed to proceed to immigration,
with a blue wristband system used to
identify those who met the new criteria.
Had I arrived in the United Kingdom
just a few hours later, however, a far
more disruptive rule change would
have derailed my entire trip. With
no immediate indication of timing,
Downing Street announced that
practically all inbound travellers to
the UK – irrespective of vaccine
status and embarkation point – would
require a PCR test, with self-isolation
until a negative result was confirmed.
I wasn’t expecting granular detail
from the UK Government, but to make
such an explosive policy change with
no timeline resulted in unnecessary
panic and confusion as Britain-bound
passengers around the world queried
if and how they would be affected, and
airport bosses scratched their heads
wondering when and how the changes
would begin. Put simply, I went to bed on
Saturday night not knowing if I would be
travelling on Monday morning!
Before we kick off with our news
digest, a quick reminder that the next
edition – that’s March/April 2022 – is
our special 100th issue. To guarantee
your copy, make a great saving on
the cover price and help champion
our independent journalism, why not
consider a subscription to Airports of the
World? Full details are on pages 30-31.
Thanks again for your continued
support and here’s to a better 2022,
Gordon Smith
Editor-at-large

Heathrow ready for red list
HEATHROW AIRPORT has
reopened its dedicated facility
for passengers arriving from
countries on the UK government’s
coronavirus red list. At 1500hrs
on December 1, Terminal 4 began
to handle the arrival of the higher
risk travellers, keeping direct red
list arrivals away from the other
operational facilities at the west
London gateway.
Described by Heathrow as a
“safety first approach”, the airport
said it will deliver a more efficient
journey for all passengers, and
forms part of a wider series of
multi-layered processes to help
reduce the risk for passengers
and airport staff alike.
Emma Gilthorpe, Heathrow’s
chief operating officer, said: “We
are supportive of measures that
protect public health and prevent
the spread of COVID-19. The rapid
introduction of restrictions for
international travel will nonetheless
be a further significant blow for
British exporters and those wanting
to visit friends and relatives.
”Keeping the changes under
constant review and a government
commitment to the removal of
red list countries, as soon as it is
safe to do so, will help. Heathrow
maintains the highest levels of
COVID-secure measures to ensure
our passengers, colleagues and
partners know that Heathrow is a
safe place to travel to and from.”
First introduced in summer 2021,
the dedicated arrivals terminal has
been criticised by some because
it only helps passengers who fly
in directly from red list countries
to maintain separation. Those
transiting from elsewhere and
arriving into Heathrow from non-
red destinations will be processed
as normal at their airline’s regular
terminal, potentially mixing with
people from parts of the world
with lower levels of the virus.
Heathrow says a mandatory
requirement of face coverings,
intensive robotic cleaning regimes
across the airport, enhanced
ventilation in immigration halls
and in-terminal COVID marshals
all help to make the airport a safer
place during the pandemic.
In separate Heathrow news, the
London complex has published its
financial results for Q3 2021. The
hub reported its first full quarter
of passenger growth since 2019
which, according to the report,
“underscores strong pent-up
demand as travel restrictions
eased and testing requirements
were simplified.”
While there was something of a
bounce-back overall, the number
of travellers passing through the
site remained at a fraction of
pre-COVID levels. Passenger
Headline
News
figures in the time period
recovered to 28%, and cargo to
90% compared to those expected
at the hub before the pandemic. In
its latest guidance, Heathrow says
it does not expect traffic to have
fully recovered until at least 2026.
In terms of raw financials,
Heathrow has chalked up £3.4bn
in total losses since the start of
the pandemic, a figure which the
airport says “underscores [the]
long road ahead.” It highlights
that airports have very high fixed
costs relative to other businesses
and it continues to be loss-making
despite a reduction in operating
costs of more than 30%. Inspite
of the challenges, the report
concluded that Heathrow still
enjoys financial strength, declaring
£4.1bn of cash – enough, it says,
to pull through the crisis until the
market recovers fully.
(Photo Heathrow Airport)
www.key.aero 5
 News
Auckland improves road network
NZ$160M ROAD network
improvements have been
completed at Auckland Airport
– the gateway to New Zealand’s
largest metropolis.
Upgrades include widening
and building new roads, adding
high-occupancy vehicle lanes,
and improving pedestrian and
cycle paths.
André Lovatt, general manager
infrastructure at Auckland Airport,
said low footfall over the past 20
months due to the coronavirus
pandemic provided the North
Island site with a “window
of opportunity” to complete
the major project with less
inconvenience to road users.
Lovatt commented: “Our roads
are usually some of the busiest
in Auckland, so we’ve made
the most of the drop-off in
passenger numbers and
flow-on effect on traffic volumes
to get this project done, with the
roads now ready to go for the
restart of domestic travel from
Auckland on December 15, 2021
[on this date, the New Zealand
government is touted for changes
to the Auckland boundary
settings, meaning, for example,
‘Aucklanders’ can travel again,
although they have to either be
fully vaccinated or hold a negative
Finavia first to use RunwaySense
FINAVIA HAS become the
first airport operator to use
the collaborative web-based
platform RunwaySense
created by Airbus Services
company NAVBLUE.
The product, which enables
airspace users to share runway
condition reports in real-time,
has been rolled out across six of
6 airports of the world // January - February 2022
test within 72 hours of departure].”
One major change resulting
from improvement works, which
began in mid-2019, is a new
road taking traffic away from the
international terminal and forms
part of a one-way loop system
which reconnects to George Bolt
Memorial Drive – the airport’s
main thoroughfare from the north.
“Our road network at the airport
is about 40km [24 miles] in
Finavia’s 20 managed gateways.
These are Helsinki/Vantaa
(pictured), Oulu, Kittilä, Kuusamo,
Ivalo and Rovaniemi.
RunwaySense works by using
unique data provided by Airbus
A320 and A330 jets equipped
with braking action computation
function (BACF) software.
In turn, this accurately reports
total, and whether it’s travellers
catching a flight or cargo
operators transporting goods,
everyone using the roads at
Auckland Airport is on a deadline
and we need to make sure our
network is robust, now and into
the future,” added Lovatt.
Auckland Airport (pictured
before the road network
improvements in April 2017)
advanced “several other
airstrip conditions following the
aircraft’s touchdown against
the FAA’s take-off and landing
performance assessment (TALPA)
runway condition assessment
matrix (RCAM). The data is then
accessed by Finavia via SoftAvia’s
global runway reporter alert
(GRRA) software.
Thomas Lagaillarde, head
infrastructure projects” during
the pandemic.
These included a three-year
work programme of renewing
pavements on the airfield, renewal
of the Kiwi hub’s fuel pipeline
network; and preparatory work
towards a multi-storey transport
hub and future integrated
terminal development.
(Photo AviationImageNetwork/
BaoLuo)
of product portfolio and
programmes at NAVBLUE,
said: “Using this service will
enhance their airport activity,
especially at Helsinki Airport,
an important transfer hub in
Northern Europe.
”[The International Civil
Aviation Organization’s] GRF
[global reporting format]
initiative is an important step
for enhancing safe runway
operations and we’re pleased to
be able to contribute.”
The ICAO global reporting
format requirement – which
came into effect on November
4, 2021, and mitigates the risk of
runway excursions – provides a
unique data report reflecting the
aircraft’s actual braking action.
Accurate information allows
airport operators, such as
Finavia, to target their airstrip
clearing activities for greater
efficiency and fewer disruptions,
while taking advantage of
continuous operations on the
runway to collect real-time
information on their condition.
(Photo Finavia)
 Blueprint for new Austin lounge
AMERICAN AIRLINES has
unveiled plans to open a new
Admirals Club at Austin’s
Bergstrom International with
construction due to begin
in 2022.
So far, details disclosed by
the US carrier show the Austin
Admirals Club will be located
near Gate 14 at the Texas airport.
It will measure approximately
15,000sq ft, and have space for
more than 250 guests. While the
exact opening timeframe has
yet to be revealed, American
Airlines acknowledged this will
be “shared at a later date”.
Clarissa Sebastian, managing
director of premium customer
experience and onboard
products at American Airlines,
said: “Austin has such a unique
energy, with its fascinating mix of
technology and arts.
”American [Airlines] wants to
create a club that reflects that
eclectic style and pays homage
to the lively music scene.
We can’t wait for customers to
experience the new space, with
much more room to relax, unwind
and enjoy.”
A key theme of the lounge’s
inspiration will come from the city
of Austin – the capital of the Lone
Star State, and located around 73
miles northeast of San Antonio,
and 145 miles west-northwest of
Houston. Guests will be able to
sample the area’s art and music
with local musicians on hand to
keep customers entertained.
Jacqueline Yaft, Austin-
Bergstrom International Airport
chief executive officer, added:
“The new Admiral’s Club
strengthens the investments made
by American Airlines at [Austin] and
will bring an elevated experience
to travellers that will reflect the
culture, music and art that locals
and visitors alike love so much
about [the metropolis].”
Meanwhile, American
Airlines’ existing Admirals Club
is due to remain fully operational
while the new project is
undergoing construction.
The membership-based
lounges offer travellers
complimentary amenities,
including food and drink, WI-FI,
literature (digital magazines and
newspapers) and more.
Access to the Admirals Club
can also be obtained through
a day pass purchase, although
that will only be available to
those passengers flying either
on American Airlines or another
oneworld alliance-ticketed
operator. Touchless technology
has also been rolled-out to
enable easy access to these
lounges (pictured).
(Photo American Airlines)

Simultaneous runway ops return

BERLIN/BRANDENBURG The German hub also remains the previous year when it had A full-length feature in which
AIRPORT resumed simultaneous confident about increasing recorded between 3,000 and we speak to Berlin/Brandenburg
use of both runways on traffic levels. 4,600 flight movements. Airport’s chief operating officer
December 1, 2021. For example, between The Berlin gateway – which can be found on pages 36-40 of
According to bosses, the December 2021 and March 2022 covers a total area of about this edition.
decision was made to ensure it expects to “at least double the 3,632 acres – officially (Photo Flughafen Berlin
stable flight operations, even number of take-offs and landings” commenced operations on Brandenburg GmbH/
during winter weather conditions. in comparison to the same period October 31, 2020. Günter Wicker)
Now that the airstrips – 07L/25R
(11,811ft) and 07R/25L (13,123ft)
– are both active, snow and ice
on one can be cleared, while
the other remains operational.
Before the move, Brandenburg’s
runways had been used on a
rotating basis for eight months.
Aletta von Massenbach, chief
executive officer of Berlin
Brandenburg GmbH, said: “Using
just one runway in the past months
was necessary from a business
and operational perspective.
”We were able to reduce our
expenditure, yet still manage
the increasing number of flight
movements since the summer.
”Looking to the winter months,
but especially in view of the
increase in passenger numbers
forecast for the year ahead, we are
now using both [airstrips] again.
”Using two runways at
once also ensures more stable
winter flight operations, more
routine processes for staff, and
thus a return to some sort of
airport normality.”

www.key.aero 7
 News
United to return to Scotland
EDINBURGH AIRPORT looks set
to regain key transatlantic routes
after United Airlines signalled
intentions to resume services to
the Scottish capital.
From March 5, 2022 the US
carrier is billed to reintroduce its
year-round daily connection from
New York/Newark.
Edinburgh’s route network is
poised for a further boost from
United on May 7, 2022, with the
start of seasonal services from
Chicago/O’Hare and Washington/
Dulles – both also on a daily
frequency. All three routes will be
flown to Edinburgh – which has a
Concourse A reopens at Dubai/International
DUBAI/INTERNATIONAL’S
CONCOURSE A was reopened on
November 24, 2021 20 months
after its temporary closure, which
was part of initial measures taken
by United Arab Emirates (UAE)
authorities to control the spread
of COVID-19 at the onset of the
pandemic in March 2020.
The first flight to return to
Concourse A, which is part of the
8 airports of the world // January - February 2022
single Runway, 06/24, measuring
8,386ft – using 169-seat Boeing
757-200s (pictured).
Gordon Dewar, Edinburgh
Airport’s chief executive, said: “It’s
incredibly exciting to be resuming
our transatlantic services with
United to allow direct travel
between Scotland and the USA
for the first time in two years. It will
allow families to reunite, friends to
reconnect and re-open the strong
tourism destinations on both sides
of the Atlantic.”
The development comes after
United earlier disclosed plans
to operate 22-daily flights to
Terminal 3 complex, was Flight
EK 659, an Emirates rotation from
Malé in the Maldives.
According to Dubai Airports,
which owns and manages the
operation and development
of Dubai/International and
neighbouring Dubai/World
Central, Concourse A was
reopened in phases over the
following weeks to help it
London/Heathrow by spring
2022. To achieve this, the UK’s
largest airport is due to gain an
additional five rotations from the
airline. These would comprise a
new service from Boston/Logan;
Denver and San Francisco would
gain an additional rotation each;
and New York/Newark is to gain a
further two sorties.
If all goes as planned,
Heathrow’s overall United
network would consist of
Boston (daily with a 767-300ER),
Chicago/O’Hare (thrice-daily with
“maintain service levels while
accommodating the rush of
seasonal travellers in December
and beyond”.
Dubai Airports had originally
estimated that, for the period
between November 25 and
December 5, 2021, around 1.8
million travellers would pass
through the world’s busiest
international gateway; with more
a 767-300ER), Denver
(twice-daily with a 787-9),
Houston/Intercontinental
(twice-daily with a 777-200ER
and 787-9), Los Angeles (daily
with a 787-9), New York/Newark
(seven daily with a 767-300ER),
San Francisco (thrice-daily with
a 777-200ER and 787-9) and
Washington/Dulles (thrice-daily
using a 757-200, 767-300ER and
777-200ER).
(Photo United Airlines)
than 190,000 passengers passing
through the airport on December
4 alone.
Concourse A (pictured) is the
globe’s largest purpose-built
facility for the Airbus A380-800;
Dubai/International’s biggest
resident airline, Emirates, fielded
119 super jumbo jets as of
December 1, 2021.
(Photo Dubai Airports)
 Artificial intelligence employed
NEW YORK/JOHN F Kennedy’s
Terminal 4 (T4) is to use artificial
intelligence (AI) technology with
the aim of enhancing on-time
flight performance and
improving terminal operations
and sustainability.
T4’s operator, JFKIAT,
revealed it has entered a
partnership with Switzerland-
headquartered aviation software
firm Assaia International AG to
implement an ApronAI Turnaround
Control solution.
This is expected to provide
real-time alerts in instances of
Terminal expansion presses ahead
FOUR NEW airbridges have
been installed at Australia’s
Gold Coast Airport.
These form part of the site’s
three-level, 322,917sq ft
terminal expansion – doubling
its current size.
The airbridges were
transported to Gold Coast after
an approximate 8,388-mile
journey via land and sea from
the original manufacturing site in
Shenzhen, China. Each weighs
34 tons and measures 72ft long
(up to 131ft when extended).
During November 2021, it took
deviation from standard
operating procedures.
As a result, situations which
could potentially lead to
incidents or delays can be
identified and prevented.
Additionally, JFKIAT will gain
“valuable insights” which can be
shared with its ground-handlers
and airline partners.
Moreover, turnaround activities
are captured in real-time by
video streams acting as a single
source of operational data for
the terminal.
Roel Huinink, president and CEO
a ten-strong team, using a dual
165-ton crane lift, several hours to
install each one.
The airbridges will handle
passengers boarding and
disembarking from both domestic
and international rotations.
Chris Mills, Queensland Airports
Limited CEO, said: “The
airbridges are a central part of
the development.
”When people see them, they
will get a good idea of how the
passenger experience is going
to change from [2022] with the
terminal expansion.”
of JFKIAT, said: “In response to
the COVID-19 pandemic, we
have continued to transform
T4's digital ecosystem with
enhanced technologies, which
has a focus on improving the
passenger experience.
”This new solution will not only
optimise operations and our work
with our business partners but will
also help us to ensure a first-class
customer experience at T4.”
With sustainability “deeply
ingrained” in the core of JFKIAT’s
business, the technology solution
will contribute to such initiatives
Featuring a green tint, which,
according to the airport, makes
them “aesthetically unique
in Australia”, the glass-made
structures are set to offer
passengers unrivalled views of the
stunning surrounding landscape.
“One of the things that makes
Gold Coast Airport unique is
our location near the coast and
hinterland. Therefore, it is ideal
that visitors will get glimpses of
the region from the time they
arrive here and just before they
leave,” added Mills.
The terminal expansion is due
as identifying excessive auxiliary
power unit (APU) usage, which
will boost air quality while
simultaneously reducing noise
and CO₂ emissions.
Before the coronavirus crisis
took hold, the Big Apple-based
Terminal 4 (pictured) handled
more than 21 million passengers
annually in 2019, and was
served by 33 domestic and
international carriers.
T4 is the first North American
air terminal to be operated by a
private management company.
(Photo Flickr Commons/Daniel)
for completion in 2022, and
will include additional retail
space, a large departure lounge,
baggage handling, border
control and new boarding
facilities. Connecting with the
existing terminal “seamlessly”,
the expansion – which has
created more than 2,000 new
jobs – is also to create space for
19 more large aircraft.
Gold Coast Airport, which is
roughly 56 miles south of central
Brisbane, is situated on the
Queensland-New South Wales
state border.
www.key.aero 9
 News
A brand-new Brazilian lounge
BRAZIL’S VIRACOPOS
International Airport – on the
outskirts of Campinas and about
50 miles northwest of São Paulo
city centre – has gained its first
Ambaar Club lounge (pictured).
The new facility is thanks to a
partnership between VIP lounge
operator, Ambaar Lounge, and
Airport Dimensions, which
specialises in airport lounges and
travel experiences.
The opening, announced on
December 2, 2021 marks Airport
Dimensions’ entry into the South
American market.
The Ambaar Club lounge has
capacity for more than 100 guests
with opening hours between
0600hrs and 2200hrs.
Situated airside in Viracopos’
domestic departures hall, guests
can sample regionally inspired
dishes such as sweetcorn
Riga Airport passenger handling duties
IT HAS been revealed that
airBaltic has started passenger
handling and flight coordinator
duties using its own employees
at its Riga Airport base in
Latvia (pictured).
According to the carrier
– which is an all-Airbus
A220-300 operator – the move
is set to “simplify” its business
and operations as the passenger
service change forms part of
its wider cost improvement
programme. Furthermore,
the Riga Airport development
enables airBaltic to re-employ
former staff.
Martin Gauss, chief executive
officer of airBaltic, said: “During
the crisis, airBaltic is successfully
revising its products and service
10 airports of the world // January - February 2022
pudding, while a complementary
beverage bar and café service is
also available.
Different types of traveller are
catered for. Business customers
can use soundproof booths for
private calls, and families will have
access to a dedicated children’s
play area.
Entrance is available to
customers from all carriers,
including those that hold a
membership of Priority Pass,
the globe’s largest independent
airport lounge access programme.
Bernardo Claro da Fonseca, CEO
and founder of Ambaar Lounge,
said: “Ambaar Club customers will
have access to exclusive services
and spacious areas where the
highest hygiene standards and
comfort are guaranteed, and
safety is a priority.
”This new proposition will allow
to focus on delivering the core
brand values, which includes a
strong focus on all passenger
touchpoints. This move will ensure
our guests to enjoy a moment of
peace and relaxation in a modern,
sophisticated environment that
also pays homage to the rich
history of Campinas.
”We’re looking forward to
working closely with Airport
Dimensions to bring this
innovative concept to more
airports across South America in
the near future.”
Nancy Knipp, president
Americas at Airport Dimensions,
added: “The launch of Ambaar
Club forms part of our ongoing
plans to expand our global
lounge network with innovative
concepts that deliver memorable
experiences for guests and
commercial benefits for airports…
Ambaar Club will combine
Airport Dimensions’ unparalleled
expertise in delivering elevated
customer experiences with
a seamless customer service and
has created 89 new jobs.
“Our new team will grow further in
the near future.”
Ambaar Lounge’s unique lounge
design sensibilities and regional
knowledge creating a truly
innovative and unique offer
tailored to the needs of both local
and international passengers.”
Viracopos International Airport
has a single airstrip, Runway
15/33, which measures 10,630ft,
while more than 30,000
passengers pass through the
Brazilian gateway every day from
over 60 national and international
destinations. Viracopos plays an
important role in the freight sector,
and handles an impressive 40%
of all air cargo imported into the
South American country.
Moreover, it’s the official airport
to handle equipment for Formula
1 when the annual race is held at
the São Paulo Grand Prix.
(Photos Airport Dimensions/
Ambaar Lounge)
In a simultaneous move,
which was disclosed in an
announcement on November 30,
2021 RIX Ground Handling is now
delivering ramp handling duties
to airBaltic in an agreement
spanning five years.
The airport, which resides on
the western outskirts of Latvia’s
capital city, Riga, fields a sole
10,499ft-long runway (18/36).
In other Riga news, Ryanair
opened a new base at the site
in November 2021. A pair of
Boeing 737-800s, which is a
“US$200m investment”, are
based there. Consequently,
17 new routes will be added,
eventually totalling 35 served by
Ryanair from Riga.
(Photo airBaltic)
 A320: A PLANE FOR
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 News

Baggage-handling systems contract awarded

GLOBAL HIGH-TECHNOLOGY
company Leonardo has been
chosen by Aena, a leading airport
operator, for the upgrade of the
baggage-handling systems at ten
Spanish gateways, following a
public tender.
The selected facilities, which are
located on the mainland and in
Spain’s Canary Islands, comprise
Asturias (pictured), Bilbao, Jerez,
La Palma, Lanzarote, Murcia,
Reus, Santiago, Seville and
Valencia. The upgrades – set to
be delivered in consortium with
Spanish construction firm Cemosa
– are intended to guarantee that
the systems “meet the latest
security standards”.
According to Leonardo, the
combined contracts are valued at
more than €35m, while work at
the ten airports will be upgraded
“simultaneously” in a timeframe of
less than two years. The company
added that “complex planning and
co-ordination activities” have been management equipment for to auxiliary systems will be the State-owned Aena manages 46
carried out with its supply chain, luggage sorting. Meanwhile, the responsibility of Cemosa. airports and a pair of heliports
to ensure the continued operation baggage-handling systems are to Leonardo has vast experience in Spain – before the onset of
of the baggage management be equipped with X-ray, computed in baggage-handling activities COVID-19, more than 275 million
services throughout the upgrade. tomography (CT) scanners and across the globe, having worked passengers passed through
As part of the project, work set more, which are European Civil on examples including Hong the country’s aerial facilities in
to be carried out includes the Aviation Conference (ECAC) Kong/Chek Lap Kok, Kuwait/ 2019. Additionally, Aena has
replacement of baggage transport Standard 3-approved security International, Paris/Orly, Frankfurt, shares in 23 gateways across
components, electromechanical, technology. Leonardo revealed Rome/Fiumicino and Milan’s Europe and the Americas. (Photo
control, supervision and that both civil works and updates Bergamo and Malpensa gateways. AirTeamImages.com/Ismael Jorda)

Birmingham to benefit from base

THE GATEWAY to the West
Midlands, Birmingham Airport,
is poised to become both the
headquarters and first crew base
of the relaunched Flybe. The site’s
Diamond House will play host to
the firm’s new HQ and operations
centre – a move that is expected
to create around 200 direct jobs
over the next three years.
This development is expected
to enhance the essential regional
connectivity while providing a
catalyst to “restart many local
economies as they rebound from
the pandemic”, which, in turn,
would lead to additional growth
in the Midlands and contribute to
the levelling-up of the UK.
Flybe is one of the first UK
carriers to be certified by the UK
Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)
since Brexit. The operator hopes
to serve key regions across the
country and the EU, with flights
set to begin in early 2022.
Like its predecessor, the newly
relaunched Flybe will operate
a fleet of De Havilland Canada
Dash 8-400s.
Nick Barton, chief executive,
Birmingham Airport (pictured
below, second left), commented:
“Flybe’s announcement… is
fantastic news for our region’s
connectivity needs, and it will
bring with it some great new
employment opportunities. [Dave
Pflieger, Flybe CEO, has] vast
experience in managing start-up
airlines and turnaround situations,
coupled with the recovery of the
Midlands’ economy post-COVID,
means that Flybe’s return to the
skies from Birmingham is a shot
in the arm for our airport, as well
as West Midlands’ businesses
and communities.”
Dave Pflieger, Flybe CEO
(pictured, centre), added: “We
are thrilled to be partnering with
Birmingham Airport, the city of
Birmingham, and the Mayor of
the West Midlands [Andy Street,
pictured, second from the right]
to make [it] the location of our
new headquarters and first crew
base. It was an ideal choice
for us, due to its great people
and highly skilled workforce;
its central UK location; and the
fact that Birmingham Airport is
a global travel hub where local
and connecting customers
have access to [more than] 150
worldwide destinations.”
Once the UK’s third-largest
airline, the original Flybe’s demise,
in March 2020, hit Birmingham
Airport particularly hard, with a
sudden loss of capacity. However,
mitigation efforts to regain
capacity were carried out almost
immediately, thanks to new
services introduced by carriers
such as Loganair, Eastern Airways
and Aurigny Air Services.
According to aviation analytics
firm Cirium, in 2019, Flybe
operated 14,552 and 14,547
departing and arriving flights,
respectively, from/to Birmingham.
Meanwhile, Flybe Ltd appointed
Assured Aviation Services as its
ground-handling partner at the
hub. (Photo Birmingham Airport)

12 airports of the world // January - February 2022

 Derelict aircraft clear-out
FOUR KENYAN airports saw
their combined 73 examples
of uncollected, derelict aircraft
put up for public auction by the
Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) in
November 2021.
The fixed-wing airframes
were located at Nairobi’s Jomo
Kenyatta International and
Wilson airports, Mombasa/Moi
International and Lokichoggio. All
items were being offered for sale
on an ‘as it is, where it is’ basis,
and interested buyers had been
directed to view the aircraft at the
four sites from November 4-16.
Luton airspace change approval
AN AIRSPACE change at the UK’s
fifth-busiest airport is scheduled
to be implemented from 0001hrs
on February 24, 2022 following
recent approval by the UK Civil
Aviation Authority (CAA).
This airspace change, known
as ‘London Luton Airport
Arrivals’ – also referred to
by its CAA technical name
‘Swanwick Airspace Improvement
Reserve prices ranged from
the equivalent of a mere £33
for a Hawker Siddeley HS 748,
all the way up to £166,123 for a
Piper PA-46-350P Malibu Mirage.
Meanwhile, notable commercial
types in the list included four
Boeing 737-200s comprising
two Jubba Airways examples
– which both saw service with
Delta Air Lines between 1987 and
2006 – and a pair of Aerospace
Consortium jets, which were first
delivered to Irish flag carrier Aer
Lingus in 1979. The quartet were
all priced at just £2,703.
Programme, Airspace Deployment
6’ – comes after a period of
extensive public consultation.
The joint consultation, which
ran from October 2020 to
February 2021, and involved
more than 2,400 respondents,
was co-sponsored by London
Luton Airport (pictured) and NATS
(the air traffic control provider).
It consulted the public on two
Other highlights from the
catalogue included a Douglas
DC-8 (£5,400), four DC-9s
(£740-£2,222), a 707 (£1,500),
four Bombardier CRJ100/200s
(£50-£450), and a Lockheed L-1011
TriStar (£11,000) – pictured here
at Nairobi/Jomo Kenyatta.
In its public auction notice, the
KAA said all interested purchasers
would be required to pay a
deposit on each item bought: “All
purchased items shall be paid
for and collected from respective
Kenya Airports Authority premises
within seven days from the date
options to simplify and modernise
the arrival routes for rotations
into London/Luton and segregate
them from neighbouring London/
Stansted, for continued safety.
The final design, which was
submitted to the CAA in 2021,
had three notable changes in
comparison to the original plan,
following valuable feedback.
Firstly, there was a modified
of the auction, [failing] which, the
authority will charge storage at
a rate of 10,000 Kenyan shillings
per day [approximately £66] until
collection. If the items are not
collected within 14 days, the items
will be forfeited to the authority,” a
statement from the notice read.
The auction followed a warning
issued by the KAA in August
2020, which instructed owners
to collect their abandoned
aircraft and settle their accounts
or face their assets being
sold off and removed. (Photo
AviationImageNetwork/Bailey)
version of ‘option one’, with
minimal changes from today’s
aerial paths below 5,000ft and
greater dispersion of flights
above this altitude. Secondly, the
location and orientation of the
new holding area near the A1-A14
junction was altered. Finally, the
lowest standard hold altitude
was raised by 1,000ft, which, in
turn, can potentially reduce noise
impacts on the Cambridgeshire
communities of St Neots and
Huntingdon specifically, located
northeast of the airport.
Air traffic controllers will be
trained while pilots get familiar
with new routes and procedures
ahead of February 2022.
Once the update is in place,
and after 12 months of operation,
the CAA is due to undertake a
post-implementation review.
Consequently, both London Luton
Airport and NATS will have to
submit real flight performance
data for the period February
2022-23 to the UK aviation
regulator, enabling comparison
to the expected outcomes of the
change. (Photo London Luton
Airport Operations Limited)
www.key.aero 13
 News
Touching down in Terminal 3 (again)
LONDON’S HEATHROW Airport
has received scheduled services
from South American-based
LATAM once again.
The UK’s largest gateway was
reconnected with São Paulo/
Guarulhos – a distance of
approximately 5,878 miles – on
December 3, 2021, at an initial
four-times-weekly frequency.
One of LATAM’s ten-strong
arsenal of Boeing 777-300ERs,
PT-MUA (c/n 37664), – pictured
– conducted the first sortie on
resumption. Currently, the firm
uses Heathrow’s Terminal 3 (T3).
Joao Murias, LATAM Airlines
regional commercial director,
commented: “We are proud to
reconnect London to São Paulo,
and from there to all of South
Zipping across to Southern California
LOS ANGELES (LAX, pictured)
was poised to receive a Christmas
Day boost to its transpacific
route network, thanks to a new
connection by ZIPAIR Tokyo.
From December 25, the wholly
owned subsidiary of Japan
Airlines is billed to deploy its
290-seat Boeing 787-8
Dreamliners on an initial
thrice-weekly basis – as
14 airports of the world // January - February 2022
America. The demand – as soon
as the news broke that we were
back in operation – has been
incredible, which reinforces that
our commitment to connecting
the UK to South America is more
topical than ever”.
The last LATAM passenger
rotation departed the British
capital on January 17, 2021,
before government restrictions
between the UK and Brazil were
tightened, due to the pandemic.
Meanwhile, in other Heathrow
Terminal 3 developments,
American Express opened its
Centurion Lounge – part of
its signature airport lounge
programme – here back in
October 2021. Becoming the first
such example in the European
Flights ZG 24/23 – from Tokyo/
Narita. As a result, LAX would
become ZIPAIR Tokyo’s maiden
mainland USA destination.
Becca Doten, deputy executive
director, public and government
affairs, Los Angeles World
Airports, said:
“[This new]
region, the lounge covers more
than 7,000sq ft and is available to
card members.
The company said the lounge
has been created to “embody
London’s vibrancy and charm”
and features several local,
custom-made design elements.
These include bespoke bath and
body-care products from
London-based Soapsmith; a
moss wall inspired by Hyde
Park; custom furniture sourced
from UK-based producers Konk,
Naughtone and Deadgood; and
an art gallery curated by Art
Story. Travellers will also have
access to a British-inspired tea
cart with beverage selections
and a global menu curated by a
Michelin-Star chef.
service at Los Angeles
International Airport [will] further
strengthen the cultural and
economic ties between our cities.
There is a growing demand for
non-stop flights between LAX
and Narita International
Airport, and we
are pleased
The T3 facility also benefits both
business and leisure customers
thanks to, among other things,
dedicated workspaces, power
outlets, private phone areas,
comfortable seating, charging
points and high-speed Wi-Fi.
The Heathrow example is the
first Centurion Lounge to partially
utilise renewable energy, thanks
to newly installed solar panels.
The move is aimed to help
contribute towards American
Express’s 2025 environmental
goals to “reduce energy use
across its managed facilities”
while paving the way forward
for it to commit to net-zero
emissions globally by 2035.
(Photo Flickr Commons/
Anna Zvereva)
that ZIPAIR shares our desire to
provide additional options for
our guests.”
The 5,439-mile link between
LAX and Narita is heavily plied
by several carriers, including All
Nippon Airways (ANA), Singapore
Airlines (as part of a fifth-freedom
sector) and United Airlines.
(Photo Flickr Commons/
Daniel Ramirez)
 Firefighting capabilities bolstered
BANGALORE’S KEMPEGOWDA
International Airport (BLR)
– pictured – became the first
South Asian facility to commission
a Rosenbauer Tactical Simulator.
The Indian site – operated by
Bangalore International Airport
Limited (BIAL) – said the latest
move enable its firefighters to
train for emergencies in a realistic,
risk-free environment.
For example, crews – in
particular incident commanders,
crew commanders and leading
firefighters – can gain experience
in the tactical use of crash
fire tenders (CFTs), including
command and control and
application of firefighting agents.
Meanwhile, skills such as vehicle
A return to Mancunian skies
MANCHESTER AIRPORT is due to
welcome Nouvelair once again.
The Tunisian carrier – which is
the first privately owned airline in
the North African country – has
signalled intentions to operate
between the capital, Tunis, and
the northwest England gateway
operation and turret control can
be honed, thanks to a detailed
replication of the Rosenbauer fire
truck cockpit that features, among
other things, a steering wheel and
multiple 55in HD screens.
The simulator can be used to
train for various aircraft-related
emergencies through several
customisable scenarios. It will also
enable sessions to be replayed
and analysed after completion.
Jayaraj Shanmugam, chief
operating officer, BIAL, said: “At
BLR Airport, our top priority is to
maintain the highest standards of
safety and, with the Rosenbauer
CFTs, we are well equipped to
efficiently handle difficult fire
emergencies. We believe in
at a twice-weekly frequency
(Wednesdays and Sundays) from
March 29, 2022. These will be
flown by Nouvelair’s ten CFM
International CFM56-powered
Airbus A320ceos (pictured).
Karen Smart, managing
director of Manchester Airport,
training our teams, equipping
them with advanced tools
and modern technology,
providing them with
hands-on experience and
keeping them ready to contain
any possible emergencies. The
tactical simulator will support in
strengthening our firefighting
capabilities even further.”
According to BIAL, this
state-of-the-art simulator
will also be available
to firefighters from
the country’s state fire
departments and defence
forces, along with airports
from both within India and
those abroad.
In addition to its quartet of
commented: “The return of
Nouvelair to Manchester is
terrific news for the 100,000 or
so passengers in our catchment
who travel to Tunisia each year
and [it] will increase [the] choice
available to those seeking some
sunshine over Easter.”
existing crash fire tenders, the
airport added four advanced
Rosenbauer examples to its now
eight-strong fleet, comprising
a pair each of Panther 6x6 and
Panther 8x8 vehicles – two of
these are equipped with
high-reach extendable turrets.
Kempegowda International
Airport is 3,002ft above sea level
in southern India, and features
a pair of 13,123ft-long runways
(09L/27R and 09R/27L).
According to its website,
the gateway was the
“first greenfield airport
in India”. (Photo
Flickr Commons/
Venkat
Mangudi)
Rotations from Tunis initially
started in July 2021 but had to be
suspended shortly afterwards, as
travel restrictions were imposed
by the UK government, due to
the COVID-19 pandemic.
(Photo Flickr Commons/
ERIC SALARD)
www.key.aero 15
 News
Gatwick’s Scoot swoop
LONDON’S GATWICK Airport is
due to become Scoot’s first UK
destination, offering a one-stop
link from its Singapore/Changi
hub, via Bangkok/Suvarnabhumi
in both directions.
As Airports of the World went
to press, the Singaporean
firm planned for services to
commence temporarily, from
December 16-30, 2021,
thrice-weekly, to support travel
demand between Asia and
Europe during Christmas.
Then, from March 22, 2022,
the connection is due to be
reinstated, with a scheduled
seasonal service operating at the
same frequency. Scoot hinted
that there could be a “potential
increase” in flights, if demand and
regulatory approvals provide the
relevant opportunities to do so.
Pittsburgh pursues new terminal
GROUND HAS been broken
on the new 700,000sq ft
terminal project at Pittsburgh
International Airport. It forms
part of the Pennsylvania hub’s
US$1.4bn terminal modernisation
programme, and bosses say it
will be the USA’s first terminal
constructed “from the ground up”
in the post-COVID era.
According to the airport,
354,000sq ft of wood materials,
along with 12,000 tons of steel
and 94,000 tons of concrete are
earmarked for procurement
– most sourced locally. Meanwhile,
the project is also anticipated to
create approximately 14,500
direct and indirect jobs, while
generating around US$2.5bn in
economic impact.
With a scheduled opening date
in early 2025, the move is set to
consolidate operations – including
security checkpoints and baggage
claim – at Pittsburgh. As part
of the “multi-modal complex”,
16 airports of the world // January - February 2022
The wholly owned Singapore
Airlines Group subsidiary will
deploy its 20-strong inventory of
Rolls-Royce Trent 1000-powered
Boeing 787 Dreamliners (ten
each of the -8 and -9) to the West
Sussex gateway.
Stewart Wingate, Gatwick
Airport’s CEO, commented:
“This exciting new venture from
Scoot will enable people across
London and the South East [of
England] to connect more easily
with the beautiful destination
of Thailand and, beyond that,
Singapore and the rest of Asia,
providing more opportunities for
holidays, business and to visit
family and friends.”
Gatwick was last connected
to Singapore by Norwegian Air,
which flew the 6,753-mile route
between September 2017 and
entrance roadways, rental car
facilities and a 3,300-space
parking garage will complement
the terminal, in a bid to enhance
customer experience.
The terminal itself will be
designed around the health of
passengers, with 90,000sq ft
dedicated to outdoor terrace
space both land- and airside, while
clean air technology will also be
implemented. Key design features
will be developed by architectural
and engineering firms Gensler
January 2019. The Norwegian
low-cost carrier also used
Dreamliners on the route.
In other developments,
sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)
was introduced at Gatwick for
the first time back in October
and November 2021, thanks to a
collaboration between the airport,
Q8Aviation, easyJet and Neste.
As a result, 42 easyJet sorties
– all but three on links to
Glasgow, which coincided with
the COP26 conference held
in the city – were powered by
a 30% Neste MY sustainable
aviation fuel blend. This milestone
marked the first time a rotation
has departed Gatwick using SAF
and is also the maiden usage by
any easyJet service from the UK.
During this proof of concept, it
was expected that up to 70 tons
and HDR in association with luis
vidal + architects.
Sustainability is another core
principle, with the new terminal
set to be powered by Pittsburgh
International’s microgrid, made
up of five natural gas generators
and 10,000 solar panels. Keeping
with the sustainable theme, the
airport revealed that a minimum
of 75% of waste produced during
the construction phase will be
recycled or reused. For example,
concrete from existing airfield
of CO2 would be reduced across
the 42 flights, thanks to SAF.
Tim Norwood, director of
corporate affairs, planning and
sustainability of Gatwick Airport,
commented: “We are pleased to
work with our partners to be the
first [gateway] in the VINCI Airport
network [which holds a 50.01%
stake in the UK capital hub] to
introduce SAF on a commercial
flight, and prove the concept
that Gatwick is ready and able to
operationally utilise SAF.
“[Sustainable aviation fuel]
is one of several ways that
UK aviation and Gatwick
will reach net zero carbon
by 2050, alongside carbon
offsets, airspace modernisation
and continued innovation in
aerospace technology.”
(Photo Gatwick Airport Limited)
ramps will be used in the creation
of new roads.
Christina Cassotis, CEO of
the Allegheny County Airport
Authority, which operates
Pittsburgh International Airport
and Allegheny County Airport,
said: “As we break ground with
the concrete that has been here
for decades, we break ground
on more than a building – we
break ground on the future of
travel. [We] are advancing a new
standard for infrastructure projects
that benefit our people and our
communities first.
“This new terminal represents
the region’s DNA, and it will mirror
Pittsburgh and our many rich
cultures,” added Cassotis.
Pittsburgh International (pictured
here back in June 2019) features
four runways: 10L/28R (10,502ft),
10C/28C (10,775ft), 10R/28L
(11,500ft) and 14/32 (8,101ft).
(Photo Flickr Commons/
Tony Webster)
 Hong Kong runway update
IN A move to prepare for the
introduction of its new
three-runway system (3RS),
Hong Kong International
Airport’s existing northern
airstrip has now officially been
re-designated. As a result, the
12,467ft-long 07L/25R has now
become 07C/25C (pictured,
below), in turn, the brand-new
third runway – planned to be put
into operation in 2022 – will be
designated 07L/25R.
As part of the final runway
re-designation works, as of
0001hrs on December 2, 2021,
the existing northern airstrip was
temporarily closed, as runway
and taxiway markings, along with
movement area guidance signs,
were replaced and updated
(pictured, above). Additionally,
relevant modifications to
the Hong Kong hub’s air
traffic control equipment and
procedures, as well as its airport
operations control systems,
were carried out.
By 0800hrs, the newly
designated 07C/25C was
reopened (pictured, right) and
came after “comprehensive
testing”, conducted jointly by
Airport Authority Hong Kong
(AAHK) and the Civil Aviation
Department (CAD), regarding
inspections and equipment.
Meanwhile, during the eight
hours of closure throughout
the night, all of Hong Kong’s
departing and arriving air traffic
was handled via its southern
runway: 07R/25L.
Vivian Cheung, executive
director, airport operations of
Airport Authority Hong Kong,
commented: “We are pleased
to see the smooth operation of
re-designating the North Runway.
Though the final changeover
took only one night, the entire
process was started [more than]
a year ago [and has involved]
meticulous planning and close
communications with other
runway users.
“Apart from system upgrade
and airfield works, all necessary
updates on equipment, operation
plans, procedures and manuals
have been updated as well.”
With the new airstrip due to
be commissioned in 2022,
reconfiguration work is then
slated to begin on the centre
runway, which will be done in
parallel with other works of the
wider project, including the
completion of the Terminal 2
expansion and T2 concourse.
Overall, construction of the 3RS
project is slated to finish by 2024.
The airport has outlined how
it may operate its three-runway
system. For example, following
an “independent consultancy
study”, the most efficient way of
operation would involve 07L/25R
used for landings, 07C/25C for
departures, while 07R/25L would
handle both.
These latest developments came
after the pavement works for the
new runway were finished (see
Airports of the World, November/
December 2021 edition).
(Photos Airport Authority
Hong Kong/Hong Kong
International Airport)
www.key.aero 17
 News

Route reboot
Airlines worldwide have begun bolstering their route networks in anticipation of
increased demand in spite of challenges posed by international travel restrictions.
We’ve delved through a wealth of schedules to list some of the most notable restarts,
returns and resumptions, as well as a swathe of brand-new services being offered*
Date Airline Route Frequency Aircraft Type Notes
Dec 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore-Manchester-Houston 3x weekly Airbus A350-900 Service resumption
Dec 1 SriLankan Airlines Colombo-Almaty 2x weekly Airbus A321neo New service
Dec 1 Aer Lingus UK Manchester-New York JFK Daily Airbus A330-300 New service
Dec 1 Bangkok Airways Bangkok/Suvarnabhumi-Phnom Penh 4x weekly Airbus A320ceo Service resumption
Dec 1 Zambia Airways Lusaka-Ndola 6x weekly De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400 New service
Dec 1 Caribbean Airlines Port of Spain-Kingston 2x weekly Boeing 737-800 Service resumption
Dec 1 Caribbean Airlines Kingston-Nassau 2x weekly Boeing 737-800 Service resumption
Dec 1 Zambia Airways Lusaka-Livingstone 5x weekly De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400 New service
Dec 1 Aer Lingus Dublin-Newark Daily Airbus A321LR Service resumption
Dec 2 Air Seychelles Seychelles-Mumbai 1x weekly Airbus A320neo Service resumption
Dec 3 Qatar Airways Doha-Sharm-El-Sheikh 2x weekly Airbus A320ceo New service
Dec 3 Air Astana Almaty-Colombo 2x weekly Airbus A321LR New service
Dec 3 LATAM Brasil São Paulo/Guarulhos-London/Heathrow 4x weekly Boeing 777-300ER Service resumption
Dec 6 Emirates Dubai-Tel Aviv Daily Boeing 777-300ER New service
Dec 7 Caribbean Airlines Kingston-Fort Lauderdale 2x weekly Boeing 737-800 Service resumption
Dec 7 KLM Amsterdam/Schiphol-Las Vegas/McCarran 3x weekly Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner Service resumption
Dec 7 Copa Airlines Panama City-Las Vegas 2x weekly Boeing 737 MAX 9 Service resumption
Dec 9 Qatar Airways Doha-Odessa 3x weekly Airbus A320ceo New service
Dec 10 Wizz Air Hungary Liverpool-Tirana 3x weekly Airbus A320ceo/neo New service
Dec 10 LOT Polish Airlines Warsaw-Miami 3x weekly Boeing 787 Service resumption
Dec 11 Caribbean Airlines Port of Spain-Saint Martin 1x weekly Boeing 737-800 Service resumption
Dec 11 Caribbean Airlines Nassau-Saint Martin 1x weekly Boeing 737-800 Service resumption
Dec 11 Aer Lingus Manchester-Orlando 5x weekly Airbus A330-300 New service
Dec 12 Caribbean Airlines Port of Spain-Fort Lauderdale 2x weekly Boeing 737-800 Service resumption
Dec 13 Delta Air Lines New York/JFK-Frankfurt Daily Airbus A330-300 Service resumption
Dec 14 Delta Air Lines Atlanta-Munich 4x weekly Airbus A330-300 Service resumption
Dec 14 Finnair Helsinki-Bergen 3x weekly De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400 New service, op by Wideroe
Dec 14 Finnair Helsinki-Tromso 3x weekly De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400 New service, op by Wideroe
Dec 14 Flyr Oslo/Gardemoen-Gran Canaria 2x weekly Boeing 737-800 New service
Dec 15 Hawaiian Airlines Honolulu-Sydney 5x weekly Airbus A330-200 Service resumption
Dec 15 Ryanair Manchester-Cork 2x daily Boeing 737-800 Service resumption
Dec 15 Azerbaijan Airlines Baku-Kuwait City 2x weekly Airbus A319ceo New service
Dec 15 FlyOne Armenia Yerevan-Moscow/Vnukovo 2x daily Airbus A320ceo New service
Dec 15 FlyOne Armenia Yerevan-Chisinau Daily Airbus A320ceo New service
Dec 15 Eastern Airways Newquay/Cornwall-London/Gatwick Daily ATR 72-600 PSO contract awarded
Dec 15 FlyOne Armenia Yerevan-Tehran 2x weekly Airbus A320ceo New service
Dec 16 Scoot Singapore-Bangkok/Suvarnabhumi-London/Gatwick 2x weekly Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner New service
Dec 16 WestJet Winnipeg-Regina 4x weekly Boeing 737-800 Service resumption
Dec 16 Swoop Edmonton-Palm Springs 2x daily Boeing 737-800 Service resumption
Dec 16 Sky Alps Bolzano-Hamburg 2x weekly De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400 New service
Dec 16 Air Astana Almaty-Delhi 3x weekly Airbus A320ceo/neo Service resumption
Dec 16 Wizz Air Hungary Kiev/Sikorsky-Stockholm/Skavsta 2x weekly Airbus A320ceo/neo New service
Dec 16 Wizz Air Hungary Sarajevo-Hamburg 2x weekly Airbus A320ceo/neo New service
Dec 17 Wizz Air Hungary Banja Luka-Hamburg 2x weekly Airbus A320ceo/neo New service
Dec 17 FlyOne Armenia Yerevan-Krasnodar 2x weekly Airbus A320ceo New service
Dec 17 FlyOne Armenia Yerevan-Istanbul 3x weekly Airbus A320ceo New service
Dec 17 Rex Melbourne-Brisbane 16x weekly Boeing 737-800 New service
Dec 17 American Airlines Charlotte-Munich Daily Boeing 777-200ER Service resumption
Dec 17 Aeroflot Krasnoyarsk-Bangkok 1x weekly Boeing 737-800 New service
Dec 17 Flybondi Buenos Aires/Jorge Newbery-Punta del Este 4x weekly Boeing 737-800 Service resumption
Dec 17 Flybondi Buenos Aires/Jorge Newbery-Florianópolis/Hercilio Luz 3x weekly Boeing 737-800 Service resumption

18 airports of the world // November - December 2022

Dec 18 FlyOne Armenia Yerevan-Lyon 2x weekly Airbus A320ceo New service
Dec 19 FlyOne Armenia Yerevan-Tel Aviv 2x weekly Airbus A320ceo New service
Dec 19 Royal Air Maroc Casablanca-Dubai 3x weekly Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner Service resumption
Dec 20 FlyOne Armenia Yerevan-Tbilisi 2x weekly Airbus A320ceo New service
Dec 20 Rex Brisbane-Sydney 23x weekly Boeing 737-800 New service
Dec 22 Qantas Melbourne-Adelaide-Delhi 4x weekly Airbus A330-200 New service
Dec 22 Thai AirAsia Bangkok/Don Mueang-Male 2x weekly Airbus A320ceo/neo Service resumption
Dec 24 HiSky Chisinau-Milan/Bergamo 2x weekly Airbus A320ceo New service
Dec 25 ZIPAIR Tokyo Tokyo/Narita-Los Angeles 3x weekly Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner New service
Dec 25 Azimuth Airlines Rostov-on-Don-Dubai 1x weekly Sukhoi Superjet 100 New service

2022
Jan 5 United Airlines San Francisco-Singapore 4x weekly Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner Service resumption
Jan 10 TUS Airways Larnaca-Dusseldorf 2x weekly Airbus A320ceo New service
Jan 17 Qatar Airways Doha-Tashkent 2x weekly Airbus A320ceo New service
Jan 20 Singapore Airlines Singapore/Changi-Munich Daily Airbus A350-900 Service resumption
Feb 6 Delta Air Lines New York/JFK-Zurich Daily Boeing 767-400ER Service resumption
Feb 16 Spirit Airlines Ponce-Orlando Daily Airbus A320ceo/neo New service
Feb 17 STARLUX Airlines Taipei/Taoyuan 1x weekly Airbus A321neo New service
Mar 4 Eurowings Stockholm/Arlanda-Prague/Ruzyne 2x weekly Airbus A320ceo New service
Mar 4 United Airlines Los Angeles-London/Heathrow Daily Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner Service resumption
Mar 22 Scoot Singapore-Bangkok/Suvarnabhumi-London/Gatwick 3x weekly Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner Service resumption
Mar 26 United Airlines London/Heathrow-Boston Daily Boeing 767-300ER New service
Mar 26 Delta Air Lines New York/JFK-Brussels 5x weekly Boeing 767-300ER Service resumption
Mar 27 Ryanair Liverpool/John Lennon-Zadar 2x weekly Boeing 737-800 New service
Mar 27 Flyr Oslo/Gardemoen-Barcelona/El Prat TBC Boeing 737-800 New service
Mar 27 Flyr Oslo/Gardemoen-Berlin/Brandenburg TBC Boeing 737-800 New service
Mar 28 Flair Airlines Regina-Vancouver 2x weekly Boeing 737-800 Service resumption
Mar 28 Qantas Adelaide-Newcastle 3x weekly Embraer E190 New service
Mar 29 Nouvelair Tunis-Manchester 2x weekly Airbus A320ceo Service resumption
Apr 1 Blue Air Bucharest/Otopeni-Dusseldorf 5x weekly Boeing 737-800 New service
Apr 2 SunExpress Antalya-Edinburgh 2x weekly Boeing 737-800 New service
Apr 8 Volotea Verona-Paris/Charles de Gaulle 4x weekly Airbus A319ceo New service
Apr 14 Flair Airlines Winnipeg-Regina 2x weekly Boeing 737-800 New service
Apr 16 Flair Airlines Winnipeg-Saskatoon 2x weekly Boeing 737-800 New service
Apr 24 Transavia Amsterdam/Schiphol-Ponta Delgada 1x weekly Boeing 737-800 New service
Apr 25 Swoop Edmonton-Ottawa 4x weekly Boeing 737-800 Service resumption
May 1 Delta Air Lines Boston-Rome Daily Airbus A330-300 Service resumption
May 1 Delta Air Lines New York/JFK-Edinburgh 5x weekly Boeing 767-300ER Service resumption
May 1 Delta Air Lines Boston-Milan Daily Boeing 767-300ER Service resumption
May 1 Swoop Edmonton-Halifax 5x weekly Boeing 737-800 Service resumption
May 3 Delta Air Lines Portland-Amsterdam/Schiphol Daily Boeing 767-300ER Service resumption
May 5 United Airlines Newark-Bergen 3x weekly Boeing 757-200 New service
May 5 United Airlines Washington/Dulles-Amman 3x weekly Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner New service
May 5 Swoop Edmonton-Kelowna Daily Boeing 737-800 Service resumption
May 6 Flyr Oslo/Gardemoen-Brussels TBC Boeing 737-800 New service
May 13 United Airlines Newark-Ponta Delgada Daily Boeing 757-200 New service
May 13 United Airlines Newark-Stockholm/Arlanda Daily Boeing 757-200 Service resumption
May 15 WestJet Toronto-Dublin 4x weekly Boeing 737 MAX 8 New service
May 22 Air Transat Quebec City-London/Gatwick 1x weekly Airbus A321LR New service
May 26 Delta Air Lines New York/JFK-Prague Daily Boeing 767-300ER Service resumption
May 26 Delta Air Lines New York/JFK-Copenhagen 5x weekly Boeing 767-300ER Service resumption
May 27 Delta Air Lines Boston-Edinburgh 5x weekly Boeing 767-300ER Service resumption
Jun 2 Swoop Edmonton-London 3x weekly Boeing 737-800 Service resumption
Jun 9 United Airlines Newark-Tenerife 3x weekly Boeing 757-200 New service
Jun 9 Swoop Edmonton-Comox 3x weekly Boeing 737-800 Service resumption
Jun 14 Swoop Edmonton-Saskatoon 2x weekly Boeing 737-800 Service resumption
Jun 16 Alaska Airlines Seattle-Miami Daily Boeing 737-900 New service
Jun 16 Alaska Airlines Seattle-Cleveland Daily Boeing 737-900 New service
Jun 16 Alaska Airlines Idaho Falls-Boise Daily De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400 New service
Jun 16 Alaska Airlines Boise-Las Vegas Daily Embraer E175 New service
Jun 16 Swoop Edmonton-Charlottetown 2x weekly Boeing 737-800 Service resumption
Jun 16 Swoop Edmonton-Regina 2x weekly Boeing 737-800 Service resumption
Jun 17 Swoop Edmonton-Moncton 2x weekly Boeing 737-800 Service resumption
Jun 18 Alaska Airlines Anchorage-Salt Lake City 2x weekly Boeing 737-900 Service resumption
Aug 2 Delta Air Lines Cincinnati-Paris/CDG 3x weekly Boeing 767-300ER Service resumption
Aug 3 Delta Air Lines Raleigh-Paris/CDG 3x weekly Boeing 767-300ER Service resumption
*Please note, this list is by no means exhaustive and was correct at the time of going to press. We would like to thank Keith Crowden for his assistance in compiling this information.

www.key.aero 19
 FEATURE

LCY
LONDON CITY, UK
22
I9 90 10 2A O W 20

LONDON
The launch of scheduled services by the Brazilian
Embraer E190-E2 jet brings high hopes of
under a long-term wet-lease contract
for Swiss International Air Lines on
routes where the E2 complements its
mainline fleet.
efficiency gains for London’s most central airport. City slicker
Andreas Spaeth reports from the first flight While LCY is extremely convenient for
passengers looking for easy access

T
he magic button on the front
instrument console, located
between the pilots in the cockpit
of the Embraer E190-E2, doesn’t
Flight LX 456, really stick out prominently. It is labelled
operated by Helvetic ‘steep approach’ and it is an essential
Airways on behalf of
tool when landing the jet at one of the
Swiss International
most challenging major airports in the
Air Lines, was
world. “When I hit the button, it tells the
welcomed by a
water salute from fly-by-wire system that I want to do a
London City Airport’s steep approach – it wouldn’t be possible
fire service otherwise,” Captain Mathias Kohler told
All images London Airports of the World in Zurich recently.
City Airport unless He was sitting in the cockpit of HB-AZG
otherwise stated (c/n 19020036) while preparing the
world’s first revenue flight of an E190-E2
into London City Airport (LCY).
“To do the approach, I need full flaps
and spoilers on the upper wing surface
deployed at the same time, which the
‘steep approach’ mode enables. That
enhances drag to keep the speed,
as otherwise we would get too fast,”
explained Kohler, who is a pilot and
flight operations chief for Swiss carrier
Helvetic Airways. The regional airline is
currently the world’s largest operator of
the Embraer E2, having now accepted
delivery of all 12 examples ordered in
2018. Of the dozen, eight are flying
to the capital’s business district and
downtown attractions, it can be
problematic for pilots. Kohler highlighted
its short runway – which measures just
1,508 metres – as just one element
which requires careful consideration.
The modest airstrip poses an additional
challenge as it is surrounded by water
on three sides due to the site’s former
use as a dock for ships plying the
nearby River Thames. Even beyond
the immediate footprint of the LCY
complex, there are further challenges,
with the dense cluster of skyscrapers in
and around Canary Wharf in London’s

20 airports of the world // January - February 2022

CITY’S E2 DEBUT
Docklands being just one of the other
obstacles in the flight path.
When the construction of LCY was
approved in the 1980s, planning officials
required that very strict noise abatement
rules for aircraft on approach and take-
off be observed. This typically requires
specifically modified aircraft (from a
relatively small list of allowed types) plus
specially trained pilots. “On a normal
approach, we descend at a slope of 3°
at 800ft per minute and start to descend
eight miles out from touchdown,” said
Kohler. “At LCY, things are much more
condensed. There we start descending
only three miles out from the threshold
and then have a sink rate of 1,000 to
1,200ft per minute at an angle of 5.5°.”
This technique is a feature of the
E2’s full fly-by-wire system, and is a
big hit with the Helvetic captain: “It’s
very smooth to fly and it’s completely
different compared to an A320, as we
can always override the system on the
Embraer E2 unlike on the Airbus. I much
prefer to have this option.”
Having got the aircraft safely on the
Airport Statistics
IATA code:
ICAO code:
LCY
EGLC
ground, what considerations do E2 Location: 51° 30′ 19″ N 000° 03′ 19″ E
pilots at LCY have to consider to get the Elevation: 19ft (6m)
aircraft back in the sky?
Runways: 09/27 – 4,948ft (1,508m)
“The take-off procedure is also different
at London City as the runway is so short Frequencies: ATIS: 136.35
and there are again obstacles on the Approach: 132.70
flight path. Embraer developed special Tower: 118.075
procedures for this, resulting in applying Website: www.londoncityairport.com
maximum power to gain as much height
as possible in a short time, mostly to
generate less noise on the ground.”
While these procedures are not entirely
new, Helvetic CEO Tobias Pogorevc
told Airports of the World that a lot of
preparation was necessary to facilitate
the E2 to operate into LCY. “We started
the certification process even before
the pandemic, as there are a lot of flight Copyright © 2022 Jeppesen All rights reserved. The charts are available to the
tests required,” he reflected. flight simulation community via Navigraph Charts, https://www.navigraph.com.
(Not for airborne/operational use)
www.key.aero 21
The E2 has special
features to allow
Airport verdict
The first scheduled flight of an Embraer
it to operate at the
London gateway
E190-E2 on September 2, 2021, was
Andreas Spaeth big news for London City. Richard Hill,
LCY’s chief commercial officer, was one
of those who could barely contain his
An aerial overview enthusiasm: “This is absolutely decisive
of the LCY site, prior and quite special for the airport. The
to the extension of E2 will open up LCY for the first time
the taxiway
to places further away from Western
Andrew Holt/London
Europe that were our sole focus so far.
City Airport
We are optimistic an E2 could go fully Airbus A318 of British Airways, flying to partner. While Swiss isn’t operating from
loaded non-stop from London City to New York/JFK via Shannon in Ireland LCY with its own metal at the moment,
Rome or Moscow.” between 2009 and 2020. While both the Helvetic boss is hopeful about a
The E190-E2 is the largest aircraft the E190-E2 and E195-E2 are longer longer term return. “They will bring back
currently in service at LCY, typically than the A318, that aircraft was much their A220 here,” he said.
seating up to 110 passengers, but heavier, with a maximum take-off weight While the A220 with ETOPS 180
what about its bigger brother: the of 68 tons versus 56 and 62 tons certification would, in theory, be able
E195-E2? Helvetic CEO Tobias Pogorevc respectively for the two biggest E2s. The to cross the Atlantic from LCY in a pure
confirmed to Airports of the World that A318, in contrast, was a pure business business class configuration with around
the carrier is “expecting the certification class service with just 32 seats. 40 seats, apparently the same cannot be
of the E195-E2 for London City by the Pogorevc’s airline has reintroduced said for the E2.
second half of 2022.” If fully realised, flights from Zürich to LCY on behalf of “We have never looked at long-haul...
this could allow up to 134 passengers the Swiss International Air Lines. The We don’t see any market for transatlantic
The inaugural E2 to travel on each Helvetic service – a flag carrier served the East London flights and there would be a huge weight
service was sold out, record for the airport. gateway until April 2020 with its own penalty for the aircraft,” revealed Cesar
with 110 passengers The heaviest aircraft to have ever Airbus A220-100 aircraft, but now relies Pereira, Embraer’s vice president, sales
on board been regularly deployed at LCY was the on a wet lease operation of E2 jets by its and marketing for Europe.

22 airports of the world // January - February 2022

 Passengers on board
the first service were
treated to special
souvenir items from
the airline

Historical dominance
For more than a decade, Embraer’s
E-jets have held a strong position at
LCY, among many of the airport’s core
operators. This most special of London
gateways, with its severe restrictions
on aircraft types that can fly here, has
meant Brazilian examples have proved
popular, but this wasn’t always the case.
In its fledging years, LCY was
dominated by turboprops, starting with With a runway length
the Dash 7 and later the four-engine of only 1,508 metres
BAe 146s/Avro regional jets with their and descent angles of
exceptional capabilities for achieving up to 5.5º, only select
short take-offs and landings. aircraft and crews are
By 2016, British Airways had switched approved to fly to and
to an all-Embraer fleet for its domestic from LCY
and European operations from LCY via
its CityFlyer subsidiary. With the UK flag
carrier the biggest airline at the airport,
this change meant more than half of The E190-E2 pushes
LCY’s passengers were arriving or the available range
departing on Embraer aircraft, albeit the from the airport to
earlier E1 versions such as the E170 and more than 4,000km
E175. This figure reached 75% in 2020
and soared to 95% in September 2021
and almost 96% by year-end. While this
partly reflects a shift in the mix of airline
operators during this turbulent period, it
also highlights a wider trend away from
turboprops and towards regional jets.
Since the introduction of the E1
family, Embraer has almost reinvented
its product portfolio with the much
enhanced E2 platform. The OEM has
equipped all models with highly efficient
Pratt & Whitney geared turbofan
engines among other improvements.
“The E2 is 75% newly developed from
the E1, but operationally it’s the same
aircraft and we have full cockpit crew
commonality,” said Kohler.
As of November 2021, Helvetic
operates a dozen E2s, comprising eight
‘190s and four ‘195s, while holding

www.key.aero 23
Prior to the onto a further four first-generation Brighter future It’s really like a rocket, while seat-mile
pandemic, Swiss E190s. These older models – which With the E1s due to leave soon, costs are comparable to an A320.”
operated the Airbus are due to be phased out in 2022 – are Helvetic will rely on a portfolio of Embraer’s Cesar Pereira went one
A220 into the London also capable of steep approaches and a dozen E2s, despite Pogorevc step further and told Airports of the
Docklands complex form the backbone of the British acknowledging that the ideal fleet World that trip costs are 30% lower
Airways CityFlyer fleet at LCY. All size for the company would be on the E2 versus an A320neo. The
Helvetic pilots receive a five-day between 16 and 24 aircraft. Brazilians are convinced the era of the
conversion course for the E2, even With this in mind, one of the E2 is about to begin. “Many airlines will
though it could be done in half the time. questions Helvetic’s CEO is asked right-size after the pandemic. The E2
most often is what’s going to happen is a paradigm shift. We break industry
Green considerations to its options for a further 12 E2s. His rules and consider that the quest for
In this new era of environmental answer is always the same: “Now is single-fleet operations is outdated
awareness and intense scrutiny of not the right time to discuss this.” legacy thinking,” said Pereira.
aviation’s impact on the planet, the For the time being, Helvetic appears Of course, operating two aircraft
newest iteration of the regional jet from focused on its current roster of types instead of a single one does
Brazil brings timely ’green’ qualities. Embraer jets, aircraft that are in many incur a cost increase. “But the cost
As previously outlined, LCY has always ways game-changing for the airline. savings of the E2 will offset that,”
been particularly conscious of its “It burns 17% less fuel than our E1s argues the Embraer executive. The
surroundings, which comprises a dense and is 45% more efficient than the E175-E2, the smallest variant in the
mix of residential, commercial and Fokker 100s we used to operate,” E2 family, is due to be on the market
industrial architecture. marvelled Pogorevc. “It will be even by 2024, offering further options
The E2’s fuel burn and resulting CO2 more apparent again on the E195-E2. for airlines and airports alike. The
emissions are up to 20% lower than the
E1, with LCY’s Richard Hill also noting
that the E190-E2’s noise footprint is
63% lower than previous-generation
Embraer aircraft.
Management at the airport are
hopeful that other airlines such as KLM
Cityhopper – which currently boasts
seven E195-E2s from a total order of 35
– will also bring them to LCY to leverage
the airport’s unique capabilities.
Having invested in its new fleet with the
needs of the Swiss flag carrier in mind,
Helvetic hinted that it might be willing
The crew of the to explore other opportunities with its
inaugural flight Embraers. A company source admitted:
present flags “We are open to leasing our E2 fleet
representing the to others than Swiss, but we spent the
airport, the OEM money to buy the new aircraft for Swiss
and the airline initially, and they currently have access
to our whole fleet.”

24 airports of the world // January - February 2022

additional sales opportunities will be Helvetic Airways
welcome for the OEM, which in 2021 provides a range of
reported a total output of civil airliners short- and medium-
of approximately 50 jets. “Our usual haul air services from
rate is double this – about 100 – while its hubs at Zurich and
in 2020 we delivered a total of just 47 EuroAirport Basel-
aircraft,” reflected Pereira. Mulhouse-Freiburg
For LCY, the past two years have
been challenging, with the airport
closed completely during the peak of
the crisis. Things are thankfully starting
to look more positive, and when Swiss
flight LX464, operated by Helvetic,
touched down at the airport on
September 2, it heralded an exciting
new era for the London gateway. The
airside layout, historically one of the
relative limitations to LCY’s operational
efficiency, has been revised since
the start of the pandemic. A new
taxiway came online in February 2021,
meaning that no more backtracking on Bosses at the airport
the runway is needed for the first time have welcomed
since the airport opened in 1987. the E2's reduced
This major upgrade enhances the noise footprint
maximum number of movements per
hour from 38 to 45. As it was built over
water, the airport has also created
eight new aircraft stands, which will
come in very handy at peak hours with
larger aircraft such as the E2.
In 2019, LCY handled 5.1 million
passengers and it is restricted to a
maximum of 6.5 million passengers a
year. Yet within these parameters,
the airport is still able to chase Construction
further frequencies. With the recent work under way
airside improvements it is now well in December 2019
placed to handle these on the to improve the
ground, while airlines such as efficiency of
Helvetic and OEMs such as Embraer the airport's
do their part in the air. airside operation

www.key.aero 25
 Snapshot

A delight from the

‘City of Light’
While Le Bourget Airport is known today for its business jet operations and
location of the long-standing biennial Paris Air Show, this more than 100-year-old
French capital gateway has a rich history of commercial airline operations too.
Ron Mak highlights some of the aircraft from 1970 to 1980
RIGHT: This impressive line-up of Europe Aero Service (EAS) Vickers Vanguards
brighten up the Le Bourget ramp on a cloudy day. In the foreground, this Type
952 variant, F-BXOG (c/n 739) – powered by Rolls-Royce Tyne 512 engines – was
handed over to Trans-Canada Air Lines (TCA) in June 1961 as CF-TKP and then Air
Canada following the flag carrier’s brand change. After later operating for Merpati
Nusantara Airlines and Invicta International Airlines (based in Indonesia and the UK,
respectively), EAS acquired the airliner in 1975. This example was withdrawn from
use five years later at Perpignan All images Ron Mak

RIGHT: Spotted on a damp day, this 134-seat, 1967-built Boeing 727-173C was
initially leased to Air Mali from World Airways – note the US registration, N695WA
(c/n 19509). The tri-jet was later bought by Air Mali in 1974 and subsequently
reregistered TZ-ADR. After years of service with the African carrier, it was then
operated by FedEx from 1988-1995 as N199FE and named ‘Ms Mali’. The freight
giant eventually donated this 727 to the Kansas Aviation Museum from where it
still resides today alongside types including the Boeing B-47 Stratojet and
B-52D Stratofortress

BELOW: Pictured on May 27, 1973, at that year’s Paris Air Show, this brand-new
McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30, TU-TAL (c/n 46890) Libreville, had been handed
over to Air Afrique almost exactly three months prior. This Long Beach-built tri-jet
went on to serve with the carrier until 1996, although it had served a short stint on
lease with JAT Yugoslav Airlines in the mid-1980s. Eventually this DC-10 was sold
to AOM French Airlines as F-GTDI. Sadly, it was lost on December 21, 1999, after
overrunning a runway in Guatemala City, Guatemala

26 airports of the world // January - February 2022

This striking Air Ceylon Douglas DC-8-53, 4R-ACQ (c/n 45604), arrived with the carrier in 1972 – the same year that Ceylon, a former British Crown Colony, was renamed Sri Lanka. The Long
Beach-built quad jet was initially delivered to Northwest Orient as a -32 variant in 1960, before being procured by Union Aéromaritime de Transports (UAT) – which eventually merged with Transports
Aériens Intercontinentaux (TAI) to form Union des Transporteurs Aériens (UTA). Under UTA, this DC-8 was leased to Air Ceylon between 1972-1978. Following this, it was bought by IAS Cargo and later
scrapped at Miami/International by 1984

LEFT: This head-turning Aero Spacelines

377SGT Super Guppy Turbine, F-BTGV
(c/n 001), which completed its first flight in
August 1970, was one of a pair obtained by
Airbus the following year – the airframer
later acquired the rights for the type and
two more were built by UTA Industries in the
early 1980s. The rare Super Guppy Turbine
played an important role transporting Airbus
aircraft components, including for its A300
programme. Following the 1996 retirement
of F-BTGV, it was displayed at Bruntingthorpe
in the UK. After a change in developments, it
was sadly scrapped in 2020 but the cockpit
was saved and is on display at the South
Wales Aviation Museum

LEFT: Ubiquitous-looking Douglas DC-7B(F),

F-OCOQ (c/n 45238) Ville de Valence, was
pictured by the author operating for French
firm, Compagnie Air Fret. The 1957-vintage
airframe was initially handed over to
American Airlines in January the next year
in a passenger configuration as N341AA and
named ‘Flagship Kansas’. Converted to a
dedicated freighter by 1965, it served with
a swathe of operators including Zantop Air
Transport and the Swedish Red Cross. Its
final operator was Dominican Republic-based
Aerolineas Mundo SA (AMSA) as HI-622CT
in 1992. It’s understood the aircraft was later
withdrawn from use at Santo Domingo

LEFT: Union des Transporteurs Aériens (UTA)

was France’s largest wholly privately owned
airline. Here, one of UTA’s seven-strong
McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30s, F-BTDC
(c/n 46851), is seen – it was accepted by the
carrier in March 1973. This General Electric
CF6-equipped widebody remained with UTA
until the early 1990s when the firm – along
with Air Inter – merged with Air France,
subsequently becoming part of the latter’s
fleet. The jet later saw service with AOM
French Airlines and Air Lib. The aircraft
was understood to have been scrapped
around 2004

www.key.aero 27
 Snapshot

This 152-seat Douglas DC-8-62, F-BNLE (c/n 45917), was handed over factory fresh to Union des Transporteurs Aériens (UTA) in February 1968. After 16 years
with the French company, this quad jet’s other major long-term operator was US-based Airborne Express from 1986 as N803AX, this time in a dedicated
freighter role. By the millennium, this DC-8 was phased out and was understood to have been scrapped around 2004

RIGHT: A rare catch for the author was this streamlined

Djibouti Government Dassault Falcon (Mystère) 20, J2-KAC
(c/n 342) – the type could carry a maximum of ten passengers
up to a cruising speed of Mach 0.8. The sight of business jets
would become regular at Paris/Le Bourget in the future when,
from 1981, such operations from the airport became its
primary activity

RIGHT: This Dutch-built Fokker F27-400 Friendship was sighted

at Le Bourget by the author in the early 1970s. The Rolls-Royce
Dart 532-powered turboprop, F-BRQL (c/n 10268), was operating
for France-based Euralair at the time – part of the aircraft’s
five-year deployment with the airline. Originally delivered to
Lufthansa/Condor in 1965, over its long lifespan the airframe had
an interesting role from the 1970s-1990s as HZ-AAZ on behalf
of the United Nations (adorned with such titles). This F27 was
still flying as of the late 2000s with Air Panamá as HP-1543PST.
It’s understood the aircraft is preserved, although exact details
remain scarce
BELOW: An icon of French aerospace manufacturing, the Sud
Aviation Caravelle had a total of 282 examples built between
1955 and 1972. One such jet was this SE-210 Caravelle 10B3
Super B, YK-AFA (c/n 184), from Syrian Arab Airlines.
This Pratt & Whitney JT8D-equipped aircraft was constructed
in 1964, before being handed over to the Middle Eastern firm in
October the next year. From 1980 onwards it spent stints with
different carriers before ultimately being dismantled in Mexico
during the mid-1990s

28 airports of the world // January - February 2022

One of the most distinctive aircraft designs of the 20th century was the Lockheed Constellation and Super Constellation – nicknamed the ‘Connie’. An example of the latter, this
L-1049G, F-BRNH (c/n 4513), initially flew with flag carrier Air France from 1953 as F-BGND until 1965. After being stored, it was acquired five years later by Catair which utilised it
in a convertible 102 passenger/cargo configuration. This particular Connie would be phased out by 1972 and broken up at Pontoise outside Paris two years later

The author spotted this vibrantly painted Convair CV-640, HB-IMM (c/n 412), from SA de Transport Aerien Genève
(SATA) in the early 1970s. This Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp-powered aircraft was built in 1957 originally as
CV-440 standard for Swissair and was later sold on to SATA by 1968. Not long after being pictured, this CV-640 was
written off in Tromsø, Norway, on July 17, 1973, following a part gear collapse on landing, thankfully with no fatalities

This Soviet-constructed, 1961-vintage Ilyushin Il-18V from Air Mali, TZ-ABE (c/n 181003304), rests on the ramp at Le Bourget. Not long after being pictured, the airframe was involved in a major
accident in Burkina Faso, West Africa, on August 11, 1974. The crash landing was reportedly attributed to fuel starvation following a weather-prompted diversion to Ouagadougou

www.key.aero 29
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 FEATURE
MUC
MUNICH, GERMANY
22
I9 90 10 2A O W 20
RUNWAY TO
Above: Sustainability
was a core focus of
the event among
November’s inter airport Europe event defied the
odds and delivered an important opportunity for
exhibitors and trade
visitors alike
All images RX Global
the industry to reconnect following COVID-19.
unless stated Gordon Smith was in Munich and recaps some
of the hot topics being discussed by delegates
T
he sprawling halls of the Munich
Messe trade fair centre are, by
definition, no stranger to reunions,
but this gathering was different.
Not since 2019 had the global airport
industry come together in person to
reflect on the past, digest the status quo
and plot a brighter future.
This 23rd edition of inter airport
Europe, formally known as the
International Exhibition for Airport
Equipment, Technology, Design &
Services certainly wasn’t the biggest
32 airports of the world // January - February 2022
ever, but it was arguably the most
important in the history of the show.
Official figures suggest that 10,000
people were in attendance across the
four-day event, with around half of these
being trade visitors. Despite continued
restrictions on international travel to and
from some destinations, representatives
from 79 countries managed to make the
journey to Bavaria to a show billed as
‘the runway to recovery’.
This narrative was apparent throughout
the conference programme, including
the opening remarks to delegates from
Nicola Hamann, managing director of
the organisers, Mack-Brooks Exhibitions.
She struck a rousing tone in the face
of adversity, arguing that the industry
could, and would, build back stronger.
“For manufacturers and providers of
airport equipment and services at this
year’s show, these challenges and
opportunities are drivers for innovation
and further technical development.
Everyone involved has been going the
extra mile this year to make this event
possible,” she noted.
This message was echoed by Ralph
Beisel, general manager of ADV, the
German Airports Association, who
said a collective spirit would help the
sector bounce back from the worst
of the challenges: “We want to look
forward and overcome COVID-19, stay
together as an industry, believe in our
passion for aviation and try to get over

RECOVERY
this pandemic to restart our business.
‘Runway to recovery’ is an excellent
title for this [event] because we want to
become profitable again. For that we
need strong markets, good products
and innovation. The other big challenge
is bringing our industry to a growth path
which is in line with the sustainability
requirements. We have a clear
commitment as airports, airlines and the
whole industry to bring CO2 emissions
down to net zero.”
Comprehensive content
As usual, the exhibition was split
into three core segments, with
interTERMINAL, covering operations,
infrastructure, and technical installations
as well as interior specifications,
furnishings, architectural components
and other design elements. Across the
hall, interDATA examined the latest IT
solutions essential for any 21st-century
airport and, finally, the interRAMP
component focused on key areas of
ground support equipment, ground
handling and airfield installations.
While diverse voices from across the
airport industry were represented at
the show, there were several common
themes apparent when speaking to
international exhibitors and trade
visitors. The first of these, as evidenced
by the continued need for delegates to
wear medical-grade face-masks at all
times, was that the pandemic is far from
over and many airports are still in de
facto disaster mode.
Against this backdrop, there were
two general schools of thought: those
who ‘don’t want to waste a crisis’ and
see this as a once-in-a-generation
opportunity to undertake logistically
challenging upgrades, and those who
have reined in their capital expenditure
projects to protect cash flow. Naturally,
Above: Aerowash's
AW18 washing robots
can clean any size of
commercial aircraft
Top left: Manual
ZVF 50 Elaflex
Configurator Nozzles
are available for
different fuel types
Bottom left: Hamburg-
there is no right or wrong answer, as based Jungheinrich
the approaches taken will be heavily was one of the top
influenced by the circumstances faced brands at the show
by each airport. Many gateways that
had already committed to significant
infrastructure programmes found it
more cost-effective to complete these
rather than mothball the works mid-
project. Equally, some others had
already formally signed off the financing
for renovation and other construction
schemes, with little scope for awkward
backtracking when COVID-19 hit.
A further major theme was the need for
the sector and its relevant stakeholders
to do more to improve environmental
pledges and policies. While there
was concern among some attendees
that the pandemic could derail pre-
crisis sustainability efforts, the general
consensus was that the pressure to
embrace greener practices was greater
than ever. The need for change was all
www.key.aero 33

Above: London- the more visible given that the event
based Midstream was taking place as world leaders
Lighting scooped the simultaneously gathered in Glasgow
sustainability award for the United Nations COP26 summit.
for its LED products
Within this wider context, there was
Midstream Lighting
heated debate in Munich about the
merits of fresh regulatory intervention to
Top right: Airport
encourage the sector to expedite
digitisation was a
its eco-initiatives, versus a
key theme of the
Munich show self-improvement approach.
Product focus
Many of the new goods, systems
Below: Bulmor's and services presented at the show
SideBull boasts had a focus on cost efficiency, low or
operating wind zero emissions, enhanced passenger
stability at up to experience, automation and/or
62mph (100kph) digitalisation. While there were some
34 airports of the world // January - February 2022
Technology pioneers
One highlight of the show was the inter airport
Europe Innovation Awards, which recognise
excellence in pioneering technology across four
categories: terminal, data/digitalisation, ground
support equipment (GSE) and sustainability.
Austria’s Dynell scooped the terminal prize for
the development of greener ground power units
which boast an advanced 400Hz solid-state
concept. The company says this can deliver
efficiency values of up to 96%, alongside further
advantages such as modularity, reliability,
and enhanced voltage quality values in a new
benchmark for the sector.
Flying the flag for Italy at the awards was
MC Solutions, which was victorious in the
data/digitalisation category for their modular
intelligence airport (MIA) platform. This is
positioned as the airfield lighting control and
monitoring system (ALCMS) of the future, with
the fibre optic technology incorporating an
aircraft detection system that can highlight any
runway incursions as part of a wider surface
management ground control system. Unlike
earlier concepts, the MC Solutions platform is
only ever calibrated once, on initial installation.
Elsewhere, the top award within the GSE
category was awarded to SC Electro Max from
Romania, which received the accolade for its
VISTA platform. In brief, this is an elevated
runway LED lighting system designed for
low- or medium-intensity non-instrument
runways or airfields with non-precision
approaches. All of the required LED lights for
marking and guidance were powered and
controlled in 1.4ADC constant current under the
VISTA concept. The controller can switch the
circuits on and off, change levels of brightness
and also check for failures.
The final gong was presented to Midstream
Lighting, which picked up the coveted
sustainability award. The London-based
business impressed show attendees with its
innovative approach to apron floodlighting.
Traditionally, airports use generators and high-
power lights to deliver the required illumination,
but Midstream’s concept utilises high-efficiency
LED projectors with proprietary asymmetric
optics, which can reduce the typical energy
consumption by 70% compared with earlier
technologies and is now available in hybrid.
notable absences, many of the major
players were in attendance to showcase
their latest products and reconnect with
customers old and new. These included
Darmec’s NS-E conveyor belt loaders
which are typically equipped with an
80V 240Ah traction battery that powers
an electric motor, an electric motor-
pump for hydrostatic power steering,
as well as a brake booster. The Italian
GSE specialist also presented its new
baggage tractor with a 25kn drawbar
pull, variable hydrostatic capacity and
independent front wheel with hydraulic
suspension.
Keeping with the greener theme,
Bulmor’s Sidebull range generated
a buzz with its newest fully electric-
powered ambulift. Innovative battery
technology allows its E SideBull XLe and
XXLe (the larger model suitable for use
up to 8.1m, including serving the upper
deck of the Airbus A380) to operate with
lead acid or fast-charge Li-Ion, with the
latter able to recharge to 50% in only
40 minutes, helping boost operational
efficiency on the apron. The firm claims
this concept lowers maintenance costs
by up to 50% compared with previous
generation equipment, with the added
bonus of removing up to 400,000kg of
CO2 over the lifetime of the vehicle.
Elsewhere, ADB SAFEGATE
presented its ‘Airfield 4.0’ roadmap,
which uses digital technologies such
as wireless telemetry and sensors
to automate and enable two-way
communication between airfield assets
and stakeholders. As an example, the
status of airfield lights and other assets
can be aggregated, delivered upstream
to cloud computing tools that analyse
performance and communicated to
various control systems. The results are
shared via performance dashboards
which help operations and maintenance
staff to detect patterns and make quick,
accurate decisions.
Regardt Willer from ADB SAFEGATE
said the platform “promises to do for
airports, what ‘Industry 4.0’ is doing
for traditional manufacturing. We’re
moving away from providing isolated
standalone hardware commodities
to solutions driven by software that
deliver interconnected devices and
control systems which will communicate
seamlessly both ways.”
Other highlights included T-Systems
partnering with Frequentis in a bid
to digitise airports worldwide, TCR’s
latest insights into how telematics can
reduce carbon intensity without major
investment, and Sweden’s Aerowash,
which debuted its most recent cleaning
robot, the AW18.
Amid the wave of futuristic digital
systems and processes, the show also
offered opportunities for smaller players
to bring their goods to the market. One
such example came from Iceland’s
Mannvirki & Malbik, which presented
the Safety Kross for the first time. Made
using the same highly durable material
Left: Strict health
protocols were in
place at the Munich
Messe, with masks
worn throughout
the venue
as fishing nets found in and around the
North Atlantic, the reusable product
allows airfields to show a runway or
taxiway is temporarily closed without the
use of harmful paints or sprays.
The Safety Kross is the brainchild
of civil engineer, asphalt specialist
(and former fisherman) Sigurður Ingi
Kristófersson, who identified the need
for a more convenient and sustainable
way to help airports follow ICAO and
EASA regulations. It is also a well-timed
reminder that ultra low-tech, but highly Bottom, middle: A
sustainable solutions, can help address multistage centrifugal
problems faced by airport operators. pump by Michael
In itself, the inter airport Europe event Smith Engineers
won’t solve all of the the enormous
challenges facing the sector, but the
coming together of industry partners
was a much-needed reminder of the
power of collaboration. The ‘runway to
recovery’ might be long and bumpy in Below: Safety Kross
places, but there are high hopes that by was one of the
the time the event returns to Munich on quirkier inventions on
October 10, 2023, the blue skies will display at the event
have emerged once again. Safety Kross
www.key.aero 35
 FEATURE

BER
BERLIN, GERMANY

A gateway fit for the

22
I9 90 10 2A O W 20

Berlin Brandenburg Airport may once have been best known for its much-
delayed opening, but it has weathered an exceptionally tricky first year and
has big ambitions, as chief operating officer Patrick Muller tells Tara Craig
Rright: Patrick

T
Muller joined Berlin/ here must have been times
Brandenburg in 2018. over the years between the
He was tasked with design and opening of Berlin
getting the delayed Brandenburg Airport Willy Brandt
airport operational (BER) that its stakeholders and the
Flughafen Berlin wider public, thought its opening day of
Brandenburg would never come. What no one could
have imagined, however, was that the
gateway would open during a global
pandemic. Chief operating officer Patrick
Muller summed it up neatly by saying: “I
guess it's fair to say it was a difficult first
year for the airport...”
Pandemic opening
Muller believes BER was the first airport
to carry out an ORAT (operational
readiness and airport transfer)
programme during a pandemic, despite
the challenges posed by having to limit
the number of people they could have in
a room at any one time.
“You prepare for mass trials with maybe
2,000 passengers. None of that was
possible,” he told Airports of the World.
The airport finally opened on October
31, 2020, with the second lockdown
coming into force shortly afterwards and
traffic levels plummeting to 10% of 2019
figures. Germany’s government-driven
furlough scheme kicked in, paying
employees some 60% of their salaries,
which the airport topped up, enabling
BER to avoid letting anyone go.

36 airports of the world // January - February 2022

GERMAN CAPITAL
Furloughing staff who had just started
work in a newly opened airport caused
other difficulties, though, as Muller
explained: “The challenge is that you
have a brand-new airport. Our previous
airports were not very system heavy
– for instance, we had a classic key
for opening doors. Then we moved
to a new facility where everything is
automated, very system process driven.
“And for staff, that's a big change. So
you train them for about six months,
seven months. They’re good to go. They
start operating and then traffic breaks
down. So you send them home and
then how do you make sure that, when
[aviation] traffic comes back, your staff
and the staff of your stakeholders are
ready to operate?”
BER had to invest substantial effort,
time, money and manpower in retraining
its staff ahead of May, when traffic
gradually started to pick up again.
Slowly, slowly
By July 2021, according to Muller, it
still wasn’t clear whether traffic would
bounce back rapidly. August was better
than expected, and when Airports of
the World spoke to him at the end of
Left: Muller wants
to see Brandenburg
become known as
a “friendly, easy,
accessible and
efficient operation”
Annika Bauer/
Flughafen Berlin
Brandenburg
September, traffic was slowly picking operational advantage, because we can
up. The news that the United States had get used to the new facility with less
agreed to accept vaccinated passengers traffic. But on the other hand, of course,
was cause for optimism. the income is missing. Financially, this is
Muller was keen to put the situation a very bad year. Like everybody in the
into context: “Just to give you a few aviation industry, we're suffering.” Below: An impressive
numbers, we handled around 24 million line-up of aircraft on
passengers at Berlin Tegel Airport in In the terminal a damp Brandenburg
2019 and almost 12 million at Berlin- BER's retailers are all back online. ramp, ready for
Schönefeld. That makes almost 36 However, according to Muller, staff their next missions
million passengers. We are now looking recruitment and retention are proving Flughafen Berlin
at just under 10 million this year,” he said. difficult, with many people choosing Brandenburg GmbH/
“On the one hand, it may be an instead to work in COVID testing and Günter Wicker
www.key.aero 37
 that this is beginning to happen.”
Singapore’s recent decision to expand
its vaccinated travel lanes to include
seven European countries was a cause
for some cheer. On October 20, low-
cost carrier Scoot, a Singapore Airlines
subsidiary, resumed non-stop flights to
Singapore, with passengers no longer
required to quarantine on arrival. In
‘normal’ times, Muller noted, BER’s
passenger demographic is relatively
evenly split between business, VFR and
tourism, with some regional differences.

The long-haul holy grail

Muller admits that long-haul traffic has not
historically been Berlin’s strength, “simply
because Berlin was not on the agenda of
any of the big carriers.” What was different
in those days was that it had a strong
home base carrier that was flying long-
haul – the now defunct airberlin.
He explained further: “Long-haul
is directly linked to the traffic rights
situation in Europe and in Germany
in particular. Quite a few airlines have
Above: Brandenburg’s vaccination centres. Retail facilities are “You could clearly see that needing expressed interest in flying into Berlin,
first flight – easyJet therefore not in a position to operate a to quarantine on arrival in a country Emirates among them. They would love
Airbus A320neo two-shift model and are unable to offer has had a very big impact on traffic to fly to Berlin, but they have issues in
G-UZHF (c/n 8193), their usual opening hours. To ameliorate and passenger figures. We saw terms of traffic rights and that's what's
bound for London/ this, the airport has installed additional visiting friends and relatives coming stopping them. But if we could resolve
Gatwick – took off on vending machines, which have proven back first, then, in the summer, we this issue, then we would have a very,
November 2, 2020. popular with travellers who are keen for saw holidaymakers coming back en very good chance of seeing Emirates
Stephan Erler, head a contactless airport experience. masse. We handled around 1.5 million and other airlines flying to Berlin. Traffic
of easyJet Germany Many hygiene-minded passengers passengers in August and September, rights cause us problems with both the
and Engelbert Lütke have opted to travel to the airport by and a big part of that was, of course, Middle East and Asia.”
Daldrup, head of the car rather than by public transport. This, holidaymakers,” he revealed. BER Muller is frank about the traffic rights
airport, were on site
explained Muller, has led to growth in has also seen business traffic coming situation. The problem, he told Airports
to celebrate
parking revenues. back in recent weeks, as evidenced of the World, is that there are national
Günter Wicker/
Flughafen Berlin
However, the new rail terminal below by outbound passenger numbers carriers with close relationships with the
Brandenburg the airport has also had a positive increasing on Mondays and incoming German government, and they
impact on the number of passengers traffic growing on Fridays. do not welcome additional traffic
travelling to the airport by greener In the short term, said Muller, “We need rights, “purely out of personal
means. This is something BER wants the United States to come back. interest” – that is, to avoid
to see more of, and the airport is That will trigger a lot of business competition. To remedy this,
encouraging airlines to promote travel and also VFR. We Muller added, BER will have to
rail-and-fly offerings. desperately need Asia continue lobbying at a political
to pick up, and we level. However, an open
Below: Berlin Passenger demographic are confident skies agreement means that
Brandenburg Airport Visiting friends and relatives (VFR) was serving the US is relatively
Willy Brandt is the the first of the main passenger groups to easy and he is hopeful pre-
German capital’s sole fly again, according to Muller, beginning pandemic levels of traffic
commercial airport, as early as March this year. He added: between Berlin and North
replacing Tegel, “As soon as COVID-19 numbers America will return. United
and subsuming fell, you could see countries Airlines has confirmed
Schönefeld Günter opening up, and that was it will fly from BER to
Wicker/Flughafen crucial for the pick-up Newark, New Jersey,
Berlin Brandenburg of traffic. from March 2022 and to

38 airports of the world // January - February 2022

Washington DC from May.
Asked for a long-haul destination
dream scenario, Muller told Airports of
the World: “Thailand, for one, because
we believe that's a route that would be
of interest to many passengers, and we
are pretty sure it would work financially.
Then, of course, China would be an
important destination. And I believe that
connecting us to the Middle East would
allow additional options for transferring
at different hubs and maybe creating a
much better offering – flying six hours,
then you have a stop. And we believe
that India will become a very important
market in the future.”
Muller is keeping an eye on the
political and economic situation in South
America, but continues to see North
America, including Canada, as offering
great potential – in particular, the likes of
Toronto and Montréal.
In terms of short- and medium-haul
routes, Muller noted that: “The airlines
are agile and fast to identify
additional markets.”
He mentions the ‘warm-water
destinations’ of the Mediterranean and
the routes connecting Berlin-based
Turks, Egyptians and Tunisians, for
instance, with their home countries.
“And then, of course, you have the
traffic between the capital cities.
And that includes destinations which
wouldn't come to mind immediately,
such as Reykjavík,” he added.
German airport conundrum
BER may be the capital’s gateway, but it
is somewhat in the shadow of the larger
German airports, in particular Munich.
Asked whether this will change, Muller
points to the cost of developing a hub
and notes that, in terms of competition,
BER is up against not just Munich or
even Frankfurt, but Zürich and Vienna
– all Lufthansa Group hubs.
He continued: “Lufthansa has invested
in its four hubs and they're pretty well
set up. I cannot imagine that Lufthansa
would create a new hub in Berlin.
”Other than Lufthansa or the now
non-existent airberlin, it would be
Above: Modelled
on an aircraft body,
Hiserv‘s Smart
Trainer has enabled
the airport to train –
or retrain – staff in a
realistic environment
Annika Bauer/
Flughafen Berlin
Brandenburg
Left: Cargo has an
important role to play
in the airport’s future
Günter Wicker/
Flughafen Berlin
Brandenburg
difficult to find an airline that would The Terminal 5 question
invest in Berlin and make it a hub similar At the present time, Terminal 5 – the
to Frankfurt or Munich.” former Berlin/Schönefeld Airport
Muller is happy to see BER focus on – remains closed. Asked whether it
the short- to medium-haul markets for might make a permanent home for
the moment, backed by the likes of Ryanair, Muller told Airports of the
easyJet and Ryanair, both of which are World: “Ryanair has moved to the new
promoting outgoing traffic, which Muller Terminal 1 and seems to be quite happy
refers to as the airport’s “bread and there. From an operational perspective,
butter.” He remains conscious, however, concentrating all your traffic in the
of the city’s status and said: “Berlin being midfield is best. Split operation is always Below, left: While all
the capital of Germany, we, as the airport going to be difficult. of Brandenburg’s
operator, believe that it deserves long- “We don’t know when Terminal 5 will retail outlets are open
haul direct flights into the US, into Asia, reopen. It very much depends on traffic again, staffing has
into all parts of the world. That’s one of and we are yet to decide who will be been a challenge
the reasons we're working towards more operating out of the terminal. We will Günter Wicker/
long-haul traffic, but we don't see Berlin engage with our customers and our Flughafen Berlin
as a hub yet.” airlines and will discuss with them Brandenburg

Airport Statistics
IATA code: BER
ICAO code: EDDB
Location: 52°36'29''N 13°50'47''E
Elevation: 157ft (47.8m)
Runways: 07L/25R - 11,811ft (3,600m)
07R/25L - 13,123ft (4,000m)
First full-year* pax traffic: Approximately eight million
Destinations: 163
Airlines: 74
Top three carriers: easyJet
Ryanair
Lufthansa
Observation deck visitors: More than 100,000
Website: ber.berlin-airport.de/en.html
*Oct 31 2020-Oct 31 2021

www.key.aero 39
Right: Visiting friends as and when it's appropriate. From
and relatives was one a sequencing perspective, we will
of the first groups of continue operating in Terminal 1 and
travellers to return, then bring Terminal 2 online. Once this
as restrictions began capacity is no longer sufficient, we will
to be lifted look in to Terminal 5 reopening.”
Flughafen Berlin Terminal 5’s reopening date is not
Brandenburg GmbH/ the only uncertainty Muller is dealing
Günter Wicker
with. As he explained, the pandemic
has made planning much more difficult:
“The forecast before COVID-19 was
very easy. I could predict the number
of passengers at the end of the year
by maybe plus or minus 100,000
passengers. I knew the market was
growing, I knew which new destinations
were going to be introduced and I knew
my airline customers’ plans. This has all
become very difficult.”
But running an airport, even a newly
opened one, in a pandemic has its
benefits: “It made us become more agile
and more flexible,” Muller said. “I believe
it wasn’t the worst thing that could
happen to aviation and to the airport by cargo’,” Muller recalled. “We believe Looking to the future
business, because we could do with that, if we want to be successful in the Now that it’s up and running, what sets
some more innovation, we could do with development of long-haul traffic, cargo BER apart? Muller believes that what
some more agility. We've been forced will play a big part. That's number one. makes his airport unique is its strong
to go through it, which, all in all, wasn't Number two, we can see that e-trading connections with the public transport
a bad thing. It [enables] you to look at and e-commerce are playing an ever- system. He also believes that it’s a very
things in a different way and to not take increasing part in cargo. We see our passenger-friendly facility.
things for granted.” FedEx, AT&T, DHL traffic increasing. That is “We would like Berlin to be known as
not going to fall in the future.” a friendly, easy, accessible and efficient
Not just about passengers He is convinced that the pandemic- operation. That’s what we're working
One area of its operations that BER has driven increase in home shopping is towards in terms of public perception,”
begun to look at differently is cargo. Like here to stay, mentioning the nearby he explained.
many airports, the pandemic opened Amazon warehouse as evidence. He As for that much-discussed delay, what
BER's eyes to cargo’s importance as a expects the online retailing giant to start has been learned? “We've learnt a few
revenue stream: “When we talked to flying to Berlin, and the airport is already things. One, that politicians are not very
airlines prior to 2019 about long haul, in talks with the likes of TNT and FedEx, good at planning and constructing
Below: This vibrant,
Rolls-Royce Trent
they said ‘Additional cargo is always to make sure it understands their cargo airports. And two, once you have a
1000-powered good, but the most important thing is needs. BER’s cargo facility, according design, you shouldn't change it. You
Boeing 787-8, that the cabin is full.’ That has completely to Muller, is sufficient for current traffic. have to stick to it. You have to finish
9V-OFK (c/n 37127), turned around. When you talk to airlines The airport is transforming a recently construction and then you have to do
from Scoot is seen at that were flying during the pandemic, bought site into an express cargo facility what every other airport does – adapt
BER Terminal 1 for example, Qatar Airways, they say and has additional space, should further your facility to the needs of the users.
Günter Wicker/ ‘It's fine to have some passengers in the cargo facilities be required. Those are the two big lessons, at least
Flughafen Berlin cabin – that helps pay for the flights, but from my perspective.” It’s
Brandenburg the majority of the revenue is generated hard to argue with that.

40 airports of the world // January - February 2022

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 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022
A United Airlines Boeing 720 being readied for its
next service at New York/Idlewild (later renamed
John F Kennedy Airport) in January 1961 Photo:
H Armstrong Roberts/ClassicStock/Getty Images

42 airports of the world // January - February 2022

www.key.aero 43
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 TOWARDS
Sustainability is back
on the agenda
and many airport
operators have
been analysing

GREENER their environmental

impact. Here are
some of the eco
stories from across

GATEWAYS
Bristol’s green boost
Bristol Airport and easyJet
announced they have achieved close to
zero-emission aircraft turnarounds
through the use of electric-powered
ground equipment instead of diesel.
The initiative is part of a collaboration
between the two companies to
decarbonise ground operations at
the southwest England gateway. The
trial results suggest a 97% reduction
in CO2 emissions using the daily data
produced during the initial test period in
September 2021.
The no-frills operator is using Bristol
Airport “as a test-bed to trial and
Europe that you
might have missed
over recent weeks...
one of a number of initiatives focused on
reducing emissions.
implement the latest technological and The wider six-month trial, which
innovative solutions for decarbonising its launched at the start of September, sees
operations and reducing waste”. two dedicated aircraft stands used by
As such, easyJet has confirmed that easyJet Airbuses. Results to date show
any successful results from the Bristol a saving of 1,721kg of carbon during the
trial could be rolled out across the period the electrical equipment was
airline’s network, which spans 150 in use with only 59kgs
airports across 35 countries. used compared with
Switching to electric ground equipment 1,780kgs emitted The English airport is
including steps, baggage trollies, belt using like-for-like being used as a
loaders and ground power units to diesel equipment. test-bed for the
service the aircraft between flights is The joint budget firm easyJet

www.key.aero 45
The European partnership is supported by associates
regional carrier has including TCR, DHL, ITW, Up and Away
also been active and Terbergh.
in supporting the Dave Lees, CEO of Bristol Airport,
development of said of the initial findings: “This is an
new aircraft outstanding achievement by all involved
concepts Volotea and is another demonstration of how
working together, including partners and
experts in their field, we are able to create
a positive reduction in carbon emissions
today. As an airport we are taking our
Right: The commitments to address climate change
Bedfordshire seriously and this trial is only one initiative
gateway has we are delivering on towards achieving a
switched to net-zero airport operation by 2030.”
renewable
Rob O’Dare, airfield technical and
energy sources
compliance manager, added: “This
London Luton Airport
project has been particularly satisfying as
a result of the teamwork demonstrated
by multiple participants needed to pull
this together. Many of those partners
have invested in the trial significantly in
terms of time and equipment at no cost,
understanding that we are investing
in the social responsibility the aviation
industry carries.”
SAF surge in Sweden
Swedavia, the operator of Stockholm’s
Arlanda gateway, has accepted a yearly
supply of sustainable aviation fuel
(SAF). The green delivery follows an
annual public tender with six different
organisations taking part.
Swedavia says the aim of the
Despite the programme is to give companies and
introduction of the
other organisations the opportunity to
new bus service,
decarbonise their air travel for business
the airports will also
continue to be served purposes and at the same time promote
by Finnair's large-scale production of sustainable
ATR turboprop aviation fuel and the aviation sector’s
fleet Finnair wider aim to reach net-zero.
46 airports of the world // January - February 2022
This year, 45 tonnes of SAF will be
used in refuelling as part of the project,
which, according to the airport authority,
will reduce greenhouse gas emissions
by about 140 tonnes – the equivalent
to the amount produced by 750
passenger round-trip flights between the
Swedish capital and Berlin. Swedavia
acknowledged that due to the pandemic
“with a great loss in passengers the
volume of sustainable aviation fuel
is lower” than in previous rounds but
is nonetheless still encouraged by
continued interest in the scheme.
SAF supplied in the tender is produced
from residual products such as used
cooking oil and tallow waste. The fuel is
made by Neste in Finland and delivered
by Air bp. Under current regulations,
SAF is mixed up to 50% together
with traditional sources and is used
with existing aircraft technology and
infrastructure at the airport.
Jonas Abrahamsson, Swedavia’s
president and CEO, said: “Contributing
to increased demand for large-scale
production of sustainable aviation fuel
and, in the long term, national production
of such fuel as well are important parts
of aviation’s aim to get to net-zero,
which needs to continue with full force
as air travel starts up again in Sweden
and the rest of the world. We want to
show that, even today, it is possible
to fly using biofuel and that there are
concrete solutions to reduce fuel lifecycle
emissions we need to make even now.
Stop flying or introduce a flight ban will
not solve the climate challenge. On the
contrary, we all need to contribute to
the climate transition. Future travelling
obviously has to be sustainable, but also
needs to include flying.”
The scheme builds on a policy launched
in 2016, when Swedavia started
purchasing SAF each year via public
tender to reduce fuel lifecycle emissions
produced by the operator’s own air travel
for business purposes.
Forest focus for VINCI
One of the world’s biggest airport
operators has signed a new agreement
to support the decarbonisation of the
aviation sector. VINCI Airports has
partnered with European regional carrier
Volotea as part of its recently launched
‘forest carbon sink’ programme. The aim
is to help offset some or all of Volotea’s
residual carbon emissions and those of
its customers and wider stakeholders.
The two companies say the joint
commitment will be centred on
“high-quality forest projects, located in
areas directly impacted by airports”.
 Nicolas Notebaert, CEO of VINCI
Concessions and president of VINCI
Airports, said: “Along with sustainable
biofuels and hydrogen, forest carbon
sequestration is an integral part of our
comprehensive strategy to decarbonise
air travel. This partnership demonstrates
our ability to offer relevant solutions to
our customers, partners and all users of
our transport network”.
Carbon sequestration is a term used to
describe the process of capturing and
storing atmospheric carbon dioxide – in
this case through the development of
specially curated forest areas. VINCI
Airports runs 45 gateways in 12 countries
in Europe, Asia and North and South
America, including London/Gatwick,
Hollywood-Burbank and Osaka/Kansai.
Luton levels up
London Luton Airport (LLA) has been
awarded Level 3 of the Airport Carbon
Accreditation (ACA) scheme. The
platform is a global framework to
manage carbon output and is overseen
by Airports Council International. The
ACA initiative aims to help drive the
reduction of carbon emissions across
all areas of operations: from airfield
infrastructure to airlines, surface access
providers, ground handlers and retailers.
LLA reports that it has reduced direct
carbon emissions by more than 30%
– despite a 23% increase in passenger
numbers – between 2016 and 2019.
Management at the hub has outlined a
range of measures which have helped
achieve the reduction. These include
switching to a 100% renewable electricity
supply, upgrades to air handling units to
increase efficiency and installing a new
heating system, which has resulted in
16% reduction in gas consumption.
Commenting on the award, Alberto
Martin, CEO of LLA, said: “Achieving this
Accreditation is a significant milestone
for the airport in its sustainable
growth journey.
”However, we know
that there
is more to do, and we remain committed
to reducing our carbon emissions across
both our operations and the site itself. We
look forward to continue working with our
partners as we move towards our shared
goal of making aviation as sustainable
as possible.”
LLA joined the scheme at the end of
2019 and has committed to “achieving
carbon neutrality for its own operations”
by no later than 2026, while the
Bedfordshire site is also developing a
carbon reduction strategy to achieve net
zero emissions by 2040.
Luton remains one of the UK’s busiest
gateways despite COVID-19, having
carried 5.4 million passengers in 2020.
The complex is operated and developed
by a consortium of which the majority
shareholder is AENA, the world’s largest
airport operator, and AMP Capital, a
specialist global investment manager.
Finnish by bus?
Two of Finland’s most important regional
airports will soon be connected to the
capital by bus. Finnair has revealed
plans to introduce a new bus link on two
of its shortest domestic routes.
The new service, branded the ‘air-bus’,
is due to join the cities of Turku and
Tampere in southern Finland with the flag
carrier’s Helsinki/Vantaa home and hub.
Finnair suspended the ATR-operated
routes in early 2020 due to the
pandemic, and when sorties resume in
spring 2022, there will be both a land
and air option available to customers.
According to the airline, it will offer an
alternative means of travel between
the cities and the Finnish capital and
“eventually encourage customers to
switch to more emission-friendly buses,
particularly on midday services which
typically have a lower load factor”.
As an added incentive to tempt
passengers towards the bus option,
Finnair will guarantee onward
connections to their chosen booked
destination on a next flight, even if the
twice-daily connecting bus service
suffers a delay.
Perttu Jolma, Finnair’s vice-president of
traffic planning, said: “Turku and Tampere
are an important part of our network and
we want to offer travellers the opportunity
to reduce their carbon footprint by
switching to a bus connection.
”Travelling on these routes focuses on
customers transferring to international
flights, and we want to continue to
offer the best range of connections to
customers in the regions. Combining
different modes of transport is an
important tool in reducing carbon
emissions from transport, and it is also
in line with Finland's national emission
reduction targets."
Finnair’s move towards intermodality
forms part of a wider trend by airlines
and airports, especially in and around
Europe, which are looking to reduce
their carbon emissions while maintaining
robust schedules.
Electric charge
The expansion of a major contract at
Manchester Airport has helped Menzies
Aviation improve its electric ground
service equipment (GSE). The aviation
logistics specialist has signed a deal with
Aer Lingus to provide passenger, ramp,
cabin cleaning and de-icing services for
both long- and short-haul sorties by the
Irish flag carrier from the English hub.
In order to support the new transatlantic
routes, Menzies has increased its fleet of
electric GSE. This forms part of a wider
goal by the Edinburgh-based company
to become carbon neutral by 2033
– Menzies’ 200th anniversary. According
to the firm, it now has the widest selection
of electric GSE at Manchester Airport.
Phil Lloyd, senior vice president – UK
and Ireland at Menzies Aviation, said:
“The switch to electric was made possible
through close collaboration with Aer
Lingus and Manchester Airports Group as
we needed to quickly adapt the Aer Lingus recently
infrastructure on the ramp to charge the launched long-haul
GSE. The team are proud to see their operations to North
electric fleet at Manchester grow and are America and the
excited about supporting Aer Lingus as Caribbean from
flight volumes continue to recover.” Manchester Menzies
www.key.aero 47
Airport codes: T
DECODED
We all know what’s in a name, but codes attached to hubs
and gateways worldwide can have more peculiar origins.
Tom Batchelor demonstrates the method in IATA’s madness
in the first of a fascinating new series
48 airports of the world // January - February 2022
he airport code identifiers
that differentiate thousands
of landing sites spread across
every continent, from major hubs
to small heliports, are a vital part of the
aviation ecosystem, helping passengers
and their bags move seamlessly around
the world.
The International Air Transport
Association’s (IATA) location identifiers
are made up of a three-letter code and
cannot include numbers: a historical
naming convention linked to an earlier
coding system for weather stations
situated at airports in North America,
which were in place before IATA location
codes were used.
They are used by commercial airlines
for ticketing, reservations, baggage
handling, pricing and communication
purposes. But they are not just a
practical solution for an industry
working across borders and in multiple
languages. Rather, a handful of IATA's
11,000 or so identifiers have become
important place names in their own
right, with New York’s JFK, and Los
Angeles’ LAX among those to have
been embraced by aviation enthusiasts
and occasional fliers alike. In order for
IATA to assign an identifier, a code has
to be requested by an airline flying to
the desired location – an airport cannot
directly apply for a code with IATA.
This is the case because IATA codes
are used for commercial purposes
only and are not required if the airport
(or other location) does not receive
commercial services, for example a
military site. There are certain location
codes that cannot be used as they are
reserved for industry purposes, such as
messaging and testing. But there are still
plenty to go around, with approximately
6,200 location codes available and yet
to be assigned.
Separate to IATA identifiers are
the International Civil Aviation
Organization’s (ICAO) four-letter codes
– known as location indicators – which
tend to be used operationally, making
them less familiar to many air travellers.
ICAO has designated 17,902 location
indicators in a system dating back to
the 1950s. Four-letter combinations
usually follow a fixed naming pattern:
the first letter typically corresponds to
a country or part of a continent (the E
in EGLL – Heathrow – corresponds
with Northern Europe, for example,
while the United States gets a letter to
itself: K). The second letter corresponds
with a state or territory, while the third
and fourth help to identify a specific
gateway. Importantly, location indicators
are assigned by states, with ICAO only
checking that they conform to the above
naming rules.
An ICAO spokesperson told Airports
of the World: “Location indicators are
crucial for aviation planning and as such
there is no ongoing work or request to
change their format…
”Maybe, with the increase of landing
site possibilities to support Unmanned
Aviation System (UAS) operations,
new coding schema may need to be
developed, but this is future work
when the regulatory provisions for UAS
operations are developed."
In the first of a series on the world’s
most important or unusual codes,
Airports of the World takes a look at some
of the locations in Europe with identifiers
that stand out from the crowd:
LHR
Such is the importance of London/
Heathrow to UK and European aviation
that no list of iconic airport codes would
be complete without its ‘LHR’.
Heathrow’s origins date back to 1930,
when engineer and aircraft builder
Richard Fairey began work on a private
facility – the Great West Aerodrome
– to test his planes. The site, along
with the village of Heath Row, were
repurposed during World War Two to
become RAF Heston, helping transport
troops to Asia. Then in 1944, Heath Row
was demolished, and nearby land was
cleared to build runways. Two years
later, on January 1, 1946 the airfield was London/Heathrow
handed to the Air Ministry and became was issued the
London’s new civil airport, with the first three-letter IATA
departing aircraft bound for Buenos code 'LHR' upon its
Aires. The handover took place just as opening Heathrow
three-letter IATA location codes were Airport Limited
www.key.aero 49
Above: Cologne Bonn being introduced, with the intention of
Airport's three-letter creating a system that would simplify
code reflects the
passenger, cargo and baggage handling
city's English spelling
and message transmissions for airlines
rather than the
and their customers.
German Köln
Flickr Commons/ Now, more than 75 years after
Kevin Hackert Heathrow opened as a commercial
complex, the IATA identifier LHR has
become an important part of the West
London hub’s identity. Distinct from the
ICAO code for Heathrow – EGLL – the
three letters LHR are shorthand for the
airport. Like Gatwick, Luton and City
airports, LHR takes the first L from its
host city, with the H and R referencing
the ancient agricultural village from
50 airports of the world // January - February 2022
which the site got its name. Despite
being London’s main gateway, it has
never taken the identifier LON, which is
the IATA Metropolitan Code capturing all
six airports serving the capital.
CGN
Cologne Bonn Airport, officially Konrad
Adenauer or Köln Bonn Airport, is
the main facility serving the cities of
Cologne and Bonn in western Germany.
CGN (the IATA identifier, ICAO’s
indicator being EDDK) is unusual in
that it takes its code from the English
spelling of the city it serves, rather than
the German, Köln. However, Cologne is
not unique in this regard; several major
European airports take the anglicised
spelling, including Copenhagen (CPH,
Danish spelling København), Vienna
(VIE, German spelling Wien), Prague
(PRG, Czech spelling Praha) and
Florence (FLR, Italian spelling Firenze).
In any case, KOL is already taken, by
Koumala Airport, a rural airstrip in the
Central African Republic, as is KLN, an
only marginally busier airport at Larsen
Bay in the US state of Alaska, and KON
(Kontum, in central Vietnam). CGN, which
serves Germany’s fourth biggest city
and will connect passengers with 86
destinations over the 2021/22 winter
season, came third in the Skytrax World
Airport Awards’ ‘Best Regional Airports
in Europe 2021’ category. The English
spelling is perhaps no surprise when
the history of the site is considered. Its
origins stretch back to the formation of
a German military airbase in 1938, but it
was only after World War Two, in 1949,
that discussions began on building a
commercial airport to serve Bonn, which
had just become the provisional capital,
as well as the cultural and business
centre of Cologne.
The Royal Air Force maintained control
of the site, allowing only a limited
number of commercial flights, for most
of the period until 1957, when it was
handed to North Rhine-Westphalia
state authorities.
MLH, BSL, EAP
EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg sits
at the point where France, Germany and
Switzerland meet, so it is entirely fitting
that the airport boasts three IATA codes:
its neutral identifier, EAP, plus BSL (the
Swiss identifier) and MLH (the French
identifier). The easyJet Switzerland hub
is jointly administered by France and
Switzerland (under a post-war agreement
that saw France provide the land and
Switzerland build the runways and airport
buildings), and passengers can cross the
border between France and Switzerland
inside the terminal, even without a ticket,
using just a passport or identity card to
switch between the two countries
within departures.
While the gateway is located in
France, a Swiss customs border and
customs-free road to Basel means
passengers heading for Switzerland can
avoid French customs entirely.
XRY
The Andalusian city of Jerez is home
to one of Spain’s best-known exports:
sherry. The fortified wine plays such
an important role in the history of the
region, to the south of Seville, that the
facility’s three-letter IATA code, XRY,
offers a playful nod to the Spanish
aperitif. Aena, the Spanish airport
operator, does not hold records on
exactly how the name came to be
designated (Aena was founded in 1991
and XRY existed previously). But the
drink's official protected geographical
status is named Jerez-Xérès-Sherry and
the city is often associated with all three
names, with the airport code thought
to be taken from an amalgamation of Above: Just a
these. Most likely, the IATA identifier handful of airports
have had their IATA
comes from a combination of the X and
code transferred to
R from Xeres (the former name of Jerez)
their successors.
and the Y from the English spelling of
The most recent
sherry – a fitting tribute to a city shaped instance of this was
by its wine heritage. Istanbul Airport, with
the city's Atatürk
IST Airport being given
Turkish gateway IST is a lesson in how the new code ISL
airports can, with good enough reason, AirTeamImages.com/
change their location identifier. On Stuart Lawson
April 6, 2019 Istanbul Atatürk’s IATA
code IST was formally handed over
to the city’s new complex, while the
older facility was redesignated ISL. The
old gateway now functions as a cargo
hub, served predominantly by Turkish
Airlines but also MNG Airlines, Air ACT
and the occasional private jet. IATA rules
mean that generally speaking, location
identifiers cannot be changed once they
are assigned – they are described as
“permanent in nature”. However, there
are a select few circumstances that
justify a location code being changed.
An IATA spokesperson explained: "The
specific scenarios revolve around new
airports replacing older airports, safety
matters and/or politically sensitive
naming. In all cases changes have to be
agreed to by airlines and airport
authorities.” This was the case when IST
became ISL, but also when Munich’s
primary gateway was transferred from
Munich-Riem Airport to Munich Franz Left: EuroAirport
Josef Strauss Airport in 1992. The IATA Basel Mulhouse
Freiburg is unusual
identifier MUC and the ICAO indicator
in having a trio of
EDDM were assigned to the new airfield
codes, one generic
overnight, with the site of the old
and two which
complex being redeveloped into a reflect its position
residential and commercial district. of straddling the
The second instalment of Airport Codes: Franco-Swiss border
Decoded will appear in the March-April Wikimedia Commons/
issue, on sale from February 24. Eduard Marmet
www.key.aero 51
 FEATURE

BRN
A CAPITAL
D
BERN, SWITZERLAN
22
I9 90 10 2A O W 20

CONUNDRUM Bern-Belp Airport serves the capital of Switzerland, yet contrary to its
status, the gateway has had to fight hard to maintain its existence,
even before the onset of COVID-19, as Andreas Spaeth discovers

I
f you asked a number of non-Swiss
nationals "What is the capital of
Switzerland?", the majority of people
would answer "Geneva" or "Zürich". Yet
it is the attractive and historic city of Bern
– with a population of just 130,000 – that
has held this honour since 1848.
If the weather is clear, passengers
Bern-Belp Airport
is surrounded by and crew arriving by air to the capital’s
majestic Alpine Bern-Belp gateway, just over three miles
peaks such as the from the city centre, can be guaranteed
Eiger, Mönch spectacular views on approach
and Jungfrau to Runway 14. At its end, there’s a
Wikimedia Commons/ grandiose panorama of the highest
Lszb29 Alpine peaks in the Bernese Oberland,
including the distinct shapes of the Eiger,
Mönch and Jungfrau, all topping at more
than 13,000ft. Consequently, the airport’s
prime location makes it a magnet for
winter tourism and sports such as skiing
and mountaineering.
“Famous ski areas such as Grindelwald,
Wengen, Adelboden or Gstaad can
be reached within an hour by car from
Bern,” explained Urs Ryf, chief executive
officer/chief operating officer and a
member of the board of directors at
Flughafen Bern AG, speaking exclusively
to Airports of the World. This is an already
important niche market, although, there
haven’t been any charters for ski tourists,
including from the likes of the UK, for
several years.
A harsh reality
Despite its appeal during the winter,
especially to wealthier individuals who
fly in privately, Bern’s position as the
country’s capital is surely enough to
warrant its own flourishing air travel
market all-year long? Normally, such
important metropolises generate
traffic for being what they are, home to
political, economical and other important
national institutions.

52 airports of the world // January-February 2022

 For Bern, this couldn’t be further from Above: The airport
the truth. Its airport lies almost idle, handled just
with passenger figures numbering just 35,787 passengers
35,787 from 41,396 aircraft movements, pre-pandemic in
accounting for all aviation types, 2019. By 2020, this
pre-pandemic in 2019. With such number plummeted
statistics equating to those last seen in to just 16,183
the mid-1960s, it throws the future of the Andreas Spaeth
capital gateway into uncertainty.
Passenger numbers were strikingly
different just a few years ago. For Left: Former local
example, in 2012, a record-number of carrier SkyWork
271,254 guests passed through Bern- Airlines has been a
Belp. This built on the success of the major player in the
Swiss capital having
year before, when an 82% increase
carried approximately
in travellers (from 101,288 in 2010
212,000 customers to
to 184,655 by 2011) was recorded.
and from Bern-Belp
One of the major players behind this in 2012
impressive feat was then locally based AirTeamImages.com/
SkyWork Airlines – around 212,000 of Weimeng
its customers had flown to or from the
Swiss facility in 2012.
SkyWork Airlines, the former flying
school and later air taxi and charter
firm, had been taken over by Swiss
investor Daniel Borer in 2010, which Bern-Belp serves
sparked an aggressive growth period an important role
handling flights
for the carrier that benefited Bern-Belp
carrying senior
tremendously, thanks to the addition
government officials,
of route frequencies and several new
such as this sleek
scheduled destinations. However, Swiss Air Force
between 2010-2012, Borer reportedly Dassault Falcon
burnt the equivalent of almost €60m 900, T-785 (c/n 195)
with the regional carrier. Despite the Wikia.org Commons/
firm’s now impressive passenger FFA P-16.2

www.key.aero 53
Plane-spotters are statistics, difficult trading conditions
afforded decent in Europe led SkyWork into a period
views of the airfield of financial struggle. Borer – who was
thanks to this unique the majority shareholder in the airline
sphere that provides – stood down as company chairman
an elevated in 2013 following his role as an initial
vantage point investor and, as reported by ch-aviation
Andreas Spaeth at the time, downsized his stake from
85% to 20%.
By 2014, he was expressing a desire
to sell off his controlling stake if
suitable investors could be found. In
the intervening years, following several
changes in management and investors,
along with the aim of returning to
profitability, the airline was fielding
half-a-dozen 50-seat Saab 2000s
by 2018. Prior to this, SkyWork had
operated a fleet of Dornier Do 328-110
and De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400
turboprops from Bern-Belp.
During summer 2018, SkyWork served
22 European destinations, including six
in Germany, with scheduled services,
along with a dozen more seasonal
charter locations.
Unfortunately, the Bern-based high-
flier came to an end on August 29,
2018, filing for bankruptcy following
unsuccessful negotiations with a
prospective new investor.
Consequently, Bern-Belp felt the
full force of the SkyWork collapse,
with 17 destinations immediately lost
from the airport’s route network and

Airport Statistics the introduction of a series of layoffs,
IATA code: BRN expansion project postponements and
ICAO code: LSZB tight austerity programmes to try to
Location: 46° 91' 22'' N 07° 50' 08'' E mitigate the dire circumstances.
“Before, we had 82 permanent
Elevation: 1,673ft (509m)
airport jobs. That was halved,” Urs
Runway: 14/32 – 5,676ft (1,730m) Ryf admitted.
Terminal: One central terminal All of a sudden, the Swiss capital’s
Operator/Ownership: Flughafen Bern AG; airport was finding itself in the midst
93% private/7% public ownership of an existential crisis, with even
a shutdown of operations being
Passengers (2020): 16,183
discussed. “The City of Bern would, in
Aircraft movements (2020): 42,862 any case, prefer to turn this into a local
Website: www.flughafenbern.ch/en/ recreational area,” he said.
A seat of government, however, needs
air access, so a total shutdown of the
site was never a realistic option, not
even in 2018.
A brief history
Bern-Belp is located in Belpmoos, an
alluvial plain in the Aare valley that lies
1,673ft above sea level, and is among
Switzerland’s oldest airports.
Flight operations first commenced
from the site in June 1929 with an airline
called Alpar – a name derived from
combining the Alps and Aare River,
which flows through the capital – using
the high-wing, single-engined Fokker
F.XI on thrice-weekly Bern-Biel-Basel
services with onward connections to
Paris and London.
Nowadays, visitors to Bern-Belp can
Copyright © 2021 Jeppesen All rights reserved. The charts are available to the still experience a bit of the facility’s past,
flight simulation community via Navigraph Charts, https://www.navigraph.com. thanks to the impressive Biderhangar, a
(Not for airborne/operational use) heritage site of national significance that
sits adjacent to the modern terminal.
The Biderhangar still gives testimony to
those early days, having been erected
and named after the Swiss flying
pioneer Oskar Bider.
Bread and butter work
Away from scheduled flights, the
airport really comes into its own with a
multitude of business, charter, training
and general aviation operations from
fixed-wing and rotary types.
Most importantly, Bern-Belp plays an
essential role for the Swiss government
as it is the home base of the federal
air transport service, the
Lufttransportdienst des Bundes (LTDB),
along with the VIP flight division of the
Swiss Air Force.
The most important Swiss government
post is that of Bundesrat (Federal
Council), with those individuals having
access to the so-called ‘Bundesratsjet’, a
Swiss Air Force One equivalent flown by
the three-engined Dassault Falcon 900
since 2013. Additionally, a Swiss-built
Pilatus PC-24 serves the government
and can often be found at Bern-Belp.
The facility is also frequented by a pair
of Swiss Air Force-operated Bombardier
Challengers that are based in Dübendorf
near Zürich.
Since 2020, the duo have been
equipped with 19 economy seats but,
for weight reasons, can’t take off fully
loaded from Bern-Belp due to the short
runway of just 5,676ft, according to Ryf.

54 airports of the world // January-February 2022

 A co-operation
agreement was
signed between
Helvetic Airways and
virtual, Bern-Belp
-based flyBAIR back
in February 2020. As
a result, Helvetic’s
contingent of
Embraer E-jets have
operated on behalf of
flyBAIR to a number
of holiday hotspots
AirTeamImages.com/
Lukas Roesler

Size matters?
The airstrip’s short length – last
extended by 721ft in 2008 – is currently
the biggest obstacle in tempting larger
airlines with heavier aircraft. At present,
the Airbus A319 is the largest type that
can operate from Bern-Belp with a full
payload, with Swiss-based Chair Airlines
sending its examples from time to time.
Meanwhile, Boeing 737s also make
an occasional appearance on charter
flights, especially football-related, but
these face a weight penalty.
To attract regular rotations, such as
those from low-cost carriers, a newly
aligned and lengthened runway would
be a prerequisite. However, as
the airport’s board of
directors
acknowledged back in 2019, this could
be uneconomical and is highly unlikely
to become a reality.
So where have the more than 200,000
annual passengers gone that SkyWork
Airlines carried during its heyday?
“The market for this never existed or
promised any profits,” admitted Ryf
while looking towards a parted-out,
ex-SkyWork Dornier Do 328, HB-AEV
(c/n 3056), now used as a trainer for the
airport’s fire brigade. While management
acknowledge the potential of local
passenger demand with a catchment
area of roughly 3.5 million people
and the presence of around 4,000
companies in the immediate area,
unfortunately Switzerland’s excellent
road and rail infrastructure makes
journey times to neighbouring airports,
both home and abroad, relatively
easy: “To Zürich, it takes 70 minutes by
car and to Geneva 90 minutes. Even
Frankfurt can be reached in three-and-a-
half hours by train, [which] run every 30
minutes,” the CEO added.
Innovation prevails German-based virtual
Finding itself in a precarious situation, firm Lübeck Air
Bern-Belp was forced to innovate provided Bern-Belp’s
first new scheduled
and, during autumn 2019, 1.6m Swiss
connection in years
francs (around €1.5m) were raised
back in July 2021,
through crowdfunding from mostly local using a single ATR
enterprises to help establish a new Bern- 72-500, D-ALBC
based airline. Called flyBAIR, it sounds (c/n 822), chartered
like ‘bear’ in both German and English from its Danish airline
which is not accidental as the animal partner Alsie Express
is the symbol of Bern and supposed Andreas Spaeth

www.key.aero 55
 origin of the city’s name. The start-up
was created as a virtual airline, meaning
it doesn’t fly its own aircraft and instead
sells seats for flights on chartered
examples, in addition to codesharing
with other carriers.
On July 18, 2020, flyBAIR launched
with an initial Bern-Palma de Mallorca
sortie using an Embraer E190-E1
from Helvetic Airways following a
According to co-operation agreement between the
managers at Bern-
parties signed six months earlier. The
Belp, the gateway
E-jet was stationed at the Swiss capital
offers customers a
that summer, along with a temporary
speedy, convenient
travel experience crew and maintenance hub. Despite the
Andreas Spaeth onset of COVID-19, flyBAIR eventually
offered nine holiday destinations around
the Mediterranean in summer 2020 and
carried a total of 4,291 guests. However,
it posted a loss of just under 760,000
Swiss francs (€717,000) attributed to
one-off start-up and high operational
costs, with the advantage that this loss
could be absorbed by existing funding.
Departure and arrival
During summer 2021, flyBAIR has been
screens at Bern-Belp
mostly inactive due to the uncertain
uniquely display
privately operated market environment caused by the
rotations alongside coronavirus pandemic, although there
more traditional are plans for it to return in 2022. As such,
passenger flights Helvetic stepped in to offer a weekly
Andreas Spaeth rotation this year to Heraklion and Palma
de Mallorca from Bern-Belp using its
fuel-efficient, state-of-the-art E190-E2 and the previous summer to ply some alliance that was formed out of necessity,
E195-E2. The first example of the airline’s connections in place of the E1. if not desperation, as the two airports
current four-strong E195-E2 contingent In a welcome boost in 2021, German- found themselves cut off from scheduled
having joined back in June 2021, it had based virtual airline Lübeck Air, which airline networks as they try to survive by
already made a previous is closely affiliated with Lübeck Airport, setting up airline services through their
appearance at the Swiss provided Bern-Belp’s first new scheduled own devices.
capital following an earlier connection in years. Since July, Lübeck Air has deployed its
demo flight. This type became sole 60-seat ATR 72-500, D-ALBC
the second model of the E2 Scheduled saviour (c/n 822) – chartered from its Danish
E-jet family to operate from Thanks to co-operation between Lübeck airline partner Alsie Express – on flights
Bern-Belp after the introduction Air and flyBAIR, a codeshare on this link from its home base of Lübeck, northeast
of the smaller E190-E2 from was available, allowing seats to be sold of Hamburg, and Stuttgart. Initial plans
Helvetic (on behalf of flyBAIR) on their own platforms. It’s an unlikely showed the seasonal routes would last

56 airports of the world // January-February 2022

until October, but Lübeck Air’s winter
schedule revealed twice-weekly links
between Lübeck and Bern-Belp on
Thursdays and Sundays being operated
until December 12, 2021, with the
weekend rotations making an additional
stop at Stuttgart in both directions.
Sizeable advantage
“For holidaymakers from the Bern area,
the willingness is there to pay extra for
the convenience of flying out from what
is almost their front door,” said flyBAIR
CEO José González. “We can charge
about €100 extra by flying from here.”
Bern-Belp offers a very comfortable
experience thanks to its modern
terminal, which still looks contemporary
despite having been inaugurated in
2001. Additionally, the gateway is
promoted to local residents as a speedy,
convenient option, with customers able
to go from doorstep to gate area in mere
minutes. Ryf added that cheap guest car
parking is another benefit at Bern-Belp,
amounting to just €9.20 per day.
The terminal waiting area resembles a Boeing 737s make
lounge or stylish hotel lobby compared the occasional
to traditional airports, with comfy appearance at
chairs and other accessories. Aviation Bern-Belp,
enthusiasts are also well taken care of, exemplified here by
this Titan Airways
thanks to an elevated vantage point
-300 example,
in the shape of a unique sphere that
G-POWC (c/n 25402),
provides close-up views of the apron
back in September
and airfield. The terminal also boasts a 2012. Due to the
spacious café, while the outside seating airport’s 5,676ft-long
area has become a popular meeting runway, they incur
point for locals. Meanwhile, Bern-Belp’s a weight penalty
airport hotel is scheduled to reopen AirTeamImages.com/
soon following renovation. Lukas Roesler
The airport is served by public
transport links, with a twice-hourly bus
service to nearby Belp suburban train
station within ten minutes, and onward
connections to the Swiss capital’s main
railway station and beyond.
Looking ahead
It remains to be seen if any more
destinations will appear on Bern-Belp’s
terminal screens. Uniquely, these
boards, along with the facility’s website,
display all privately operated rotations,
including flight numbers where
applicable, along with their departure
destinations and arrival origins.
Management at the gateway will be
eager for any further expansion to its
airline customer portfolio and/or route
map. According to Ryf, Bern-Belp is
limited to 75,000 movements a year Embraer E2 jets from
due to noise regulations, but disclosed Helvetic have made
that the airport currently receives a regular appearance
approximately 45,000 annually in “a at Bern-Belp in
best-case scenario”, so there is 2021 on services
capacity for many more flights to to Heraklion and
Switzerland’s historic capital nestled Palma de Mallorca
high in the Alps. Helvetic Airways
www.key.aero 57
 Snapshot

The author spotted

this Embraer
E190-E1, XY-AGP
(c/n 19000154), from
Myanmar National
Airlines – its sole
example of the Shaanxi Y-8D, with serial 5815 (c/n 080803) and operated by 7 Squadron of the Myanmar Air Force, just
Brazilian-built type. moments from touchdown. This Chinese-built military type is one from a four-strong inventory the Myanmar
Previously, it was air arm currently possesses – the turboprop quartet had originally entered service with them back in 1992
joined by sistership
E-Jet, XY-AGQ
(c/n 19000231), until
May 2019 following
a nose gear-up
landing in Mandalay,
thankfully without
casualties. As of
November 2021, its
remaining E190 is
complemented
by eight ATR
72-600s, and a single
Boeing 737-800

Yangon International Airport

serves as the main gateway to its
namesake city and the country of
Myanmar (formerly Burma).
Jim Parsons ventured to the

escapades busy Southeast Asia airport in

December 2019 to snap some
exotic airlines

58 airports of the world // January - February 2022

Singapore Airlines Airbus A330-300, 9V-SSF (c/n 1609), almost comes to the end of an approximate 1,200-mile journey from its Changi Airport home base. The two-class,
285-seat widebody has since returned to its lessor after the Singaporean flag carrier phased out the type – it has operated a total of 34 A330-300 examples in the past

This turboprop
twosome features
a pair of carriers
both based in the
Southeast Asian
nation. On the left,
is the colourful
1996-vintage ATR
72-200, XY-AIM
(c/n 479), from Air
Thanlwin, while to
the right is a Pratt
& Whitney Canada
PW127M-powered
ATR 72-600, XY-AJE
(c/n 1068), which is
operated by Mann
Yadanarpon Airlines

A CFM International
CFM56-equipped
Airbus A319ceo,
XY-AGV (c/n 1247),
which has served
with locally based
Myanmar Airways
International (MAI)
since 2013, still
sported the firm’s
older livery – a
scheme it continued
to wear in 2021

Yangon International Airport has the IATA code ‘RGN’, its origins date back to when the city of Yangon was called Rangoon. Here, its ramp features a pair of Boeing 737-800s, 9M-MXQ (c/n 40154) and
XY-ALC (c/n 43407), from Malaysia Airlines and Myanmar National Airlines respectively in the foreground

www.key.aero 59
 Snapshot

A waning gibbous
moon forms a pretty
backdrop to this
departing Golden
Myanmar Airlines
ATR 72-600, XY-AMR
(c/n 1568), which was
handed over factory
fresh from the Franco-
Italian manufacturer
in August 2019, not
long after the author
spotted the airframe.
It joined an existing
pair of the turboprop
type, XY-AJM (c/n
1148) and XY-AJS (c/n
1156), which were
both delivered in 2014

Ruili Airlines is a
Chinese-based
carrier that started
operations in
2014 and fields
an all-Boeing 737
Next Generation
contingent made
up of the -700 and
-800, including this
vibrantly painted
jet, B-1960 (c/n
37786). Ruili Airlines
had, in the months
prior to the author’s
visit, launched a
new a four-weekly
service to Yangon
from Mangshi,
Yunnan province in
southwest China

Budget giant AirAsia

celebrated the arrival
of its 100th Airbus
A320 in 2012 by
applying this head-
turning special livery.
According to AirAsia,
it took a 20-strong
team 12 days to paint
the 180-seat jet,
9M-AQH
(c/n 4969). The
dragon theme was
chosen to coincide
with the ‘Year of the
Dragon’ during 2012

This 180-seat Airbus

A320ceo, XY-ALJ
(c/n 3242), was
a relatively new
addition to the
Myanmar Airways
International (MAI)
fleet when pictured,
having joined just a
few months prior. The
2007-built single-aisle
had spent its entire
lifespan in Europe
beforehand, initially
with airberlin, before
going to Aigle Azur

60 airports of the world // January - February 2022

 A Myanmar National
Airlines Boeing
737-800, XY-ALG
(c/n 43422), swoops
in for landing. The
carrier’s origins can
be traced back to
1948 when it was
founded as Union
of Burma Airways
(UBA) and used an
inventory of British-
built de Havilland
DH.104 Doves initially
to 19 domestic
destinations;
international links
were introduced
from 1950. It was
rebranded in 1989 as
Myanmar Airways,
before taking its
current name in 2014

All Nippon Airways

(ANA) deployed the
Boeing 767 on the
service from Tokyo/
Narita, understood
to have been three-
This Airbus A319ceo from Vilnius, Lithuania-based ACMI and charter services firm, GetJet Airlines, was to-four-times-weekly
spotted a long way from home. The 150-seat jet, LY-KEA (c/n 4691), was operating connections on behalf before the onset
of Myanmar Airways International (MAI) after being wet-leased from GetJet Airlines. The narrowbody, as of of COVID-19. The
2021, was procured by Sundair and re-registered as D-ASSM 2011-vintage, General
Electric CF6-powered
-300ER, JA623A
(c/n 40894), was
the 1001st 767 built,
the type’s milestone
1,000th example was
pipped by sistership,
JA622A (c/n 40567)

A Boeing 737-800,
HS-DBP (c/n 39336),
of Thai budget firm,
Nok Air, arrives
from Bangkok/
Don Mueang. In
Thai ‘Nok’ means
‘birds’; for example,
this 2014-built jet
was named ‘Nok
Petchnaamngern’
translating as ‘blue
diamond bird’
Bangkok Airways’ IAE V2500-powered Airbus A320ceo, HS-PGV (c/n 2310) Krabi, has been adorned in this eye-
catching livery since its delivery to the Thai company in November 2004. The airline linked Yangon with Thailand’s
main capital gateway, Bangkok/Suvarnabhumi, along with Chiang Mai in the country’s northwest

www.key.aero 61
COOL
under pressure
62 airports of the world // January - February 2022
 T
he arrival of winter brings a
unique set of challenges for
airport operators in parts of the
world where inclement weather
can occur. Severe wintry conditions
can wreak havoc with flight operations
and, in some cases, trigger the total
shutdown of major hubs. In 2010, for
instance, London/Heathrow was forced
to close for four days after heavy snow
saw flights grind to a halt.
At major European airports where
slot capacity is limited, avoiding the
widespread disruption caused by
snow, frost and freezing conditions is
paramount, so planning for winter is
a year-round operation. In addition to
airport operability, these preparations
serve a vital safety function, as wintry
weather presents hazards including
reduced braking capability and the
increased risk of skidding.
Easier said than done
Airport winter operations plans are often
complex and involve multiple elements
such as aircraft de-icing and anti-icing
(the former relates to the removal of
snow or ice after it has settled, the
latter to proactive treatment to prevent
accumulation before it happens) and
clearance of airfield surfaces. The
conditions are determined by the type
of precipitation, which range from ice
(which can take many forms, including
hoar frost and rime ice), dry, compacted
or wet snow (defined by whether the
snow holds together when compressed),
slush (which is displaced with a splatter)
and the associated standing water.
Further complicating planning, the
duration of the winter season affects how
equipment is used. In northern Norway,
for example, de-icing may be necessary
until May and starts again in August,
whereas the coastal airport of Stavanger,
which has a much milder climate, has a
much shorter winter season.
The reduction in flights across
Europe during the COVID-19 pandemic
impacted different airports in different
Even airports not ways. Some saw winter resilience teams
historically affected dramatically reduced in size, while
others have been required to maintain
by heavy snowfall their operation despite the fall in traffic.
At Munich Airport, the reduction in traffic
are rethinking their volume saw the total winter service fleet
slashed from 181 vehicles to 113. But for
winter processes. Finland’s airport operator, Finavia, the
winter maintenance service is such a
Tom Batchelor crucial element of safety and smooth
looks at some of the operations that the pandemic had no
discernible impact. “The runways must
measures European be kept clean and safe no matter how
many or few aeroplanes land and take
facilities are taking to off,” a Finavia spokesperson said.
remain operational The winter arsenal
Blowers, de- or anti-icing sprayers,
year-round displacement ploughs, sweepers,
loaders, cutters, rotary brooms, aircraft
heaters and friction testers to check the
surface is safe for use all feature in an
airport operators’ winter arsenal.
TCR is a Belgium-based provider of Aircraft including
ground support equipment (GSE) to this Pegasus Boeing
airports around the world, including 737-800, TC-ARP (c/n
several in Scandinavia, one of the 40727), sit on
regions most affected by challenging a snowy Zürich
winter weather. It supplies differing Airport ramp
levels of apparatus depending on the AirTeamImages.com/
severity of conditions expected. The Matthias Geiger
primary GSE used are de-icing vehicles
and aircraft heaters, but in airports
which are subject to severe winter
conditions, TCR also provides fan blade
heaters. Munich, for instance, often
experiences heavy snowfall and has 22
sweepers for both of its runways, each
with a sweeping width of 16ft and a
length of 52ft. In total, the airport has 30
vehicles for snow clearance, including
eight ‘oversized’ trucks with a load
volume of 80m3.
Year-round usage
Around 1,000 miles to the northeast of
the Bavarian capital, Finavia is perhaps
even more accustomed to winter
operations. There, adjustable snow-
clearing equipment is designed to be
used year-round. A spokesperson told
Airports of the World: “We are constantly
searching for new solutions to enhance
our world-class winter maintenance.
Traditionally, because of their heavy
weight, trucks have been the only
machinery strong enough for snow
removal. During the last few years, we
have focused on the development of
modifiable machinery and automation.
Because the machinery dedicated to
winter operations requires maintenance
throughout the year, it is cost-efficient
and environmentally friendly to find
solutions that can be used year-round
by means of slight modifications.
“For example, the development of
normal tractors has allowed us to test
them on runway winter maintenance.
Because the size of tractors has
increased, we have been able to connect
them to snowploughs (in front of the
tractor) and sweeper-blowers (behind the
tractor). In the future, we might be able
to use tractors year-round in different
seasons and for multiple tasks.”
The winter operations team at Austria’s
Salzburg Airport is on alert from the
beginning of November until the end of
March. The airport operates ten snow
sweepers, a high-performance milling
machine and a Unimog (a multi-purpose
vehicle) for the mechanical clearance
of surfaces. Snow blowers are also
used to either spread the snow or load
it onto trucks before it is removed and
spread on non-critical areas of the
airport, where the snow can thaw. At
Manchester Airport, aircraft now have
access to a de-icing pad rather than
undergoing the procedure at the stand,
with the aim of reducing delays.
New tech on the block
When it comes to innovation in the
winter operations market, de- and
anti-icing liquid producers have
www.key.aero 63
With 294 skiing areas largely focused on improving efficiency
nearby, it is crucial – by reducing fuel consumption and
that Zürich Airport providing electrical/hybrid solutions –
remains operational as well as improving the effectiveness
through the winter of the de-icing activity itself, achieved
Flughafen Zürich by optimising the de-icing mixture. A
special feature at Munich Airport is the
fleet of 14 spraying vehicles, used for
surface de-icing of the runways and
aprons, which are GPS-monitored,
enabling real-time monitoring of snow
and ice clearance.
In Finland, the airport operator is
seeking new ways to clear runways in
demanding winter conditions by testing
new machinery for winter maintenance
at Ivalo Airport, the northernmost airport
in the EU. “Testing of the machinery
includes programming optimised
runway clearing patterns for a special To buy or to lease?
unmanned, autonomous tractor running
on low-carbon biofuel,” a Finavia In Scandinavia and the Alpine regions of central ability to cut costs over the summer season,
spokesperson explained. “In the past, Europe, winter operations are so well-drilled when snow clearing equipment would be sitting
manual labour has been the only way that snowfall does not immediately present a idle, while also enabling them to choose the
to remove snow from, for example, problem. Conversely, as was seen at Heathrow exact equipment they need for each season
runway lights. Lately, we have been in 2010, airports which do not deal with snow and avoid being lumbered with outdated or
testing a special automatic plough for and ice on a regular basis can get caught out. unnecessary machinery.
the lights and we are eager to develop The differing levels of resilience at gateways Manchester Airport, which owns its equipment,
that process in co-operation with the
around Europe are partly determined by the sidesteps the issue of redundant machinery
manufacturer.”
size and make-up of their winter operations when there is no risk of winter storms by
Mercedes-Benz has developed its
own automated ‘Arocs’ truck, which fleet, including what equipment is owned and performing checks equivalent to an MOT
is capable of clearing an airfield of what is leased. At Brussels Airport, for example, during the summer months. By the beginning
snow in a remote-controlled convoy. where clearing a runway can be achieved of October, the equipment is ready to be used
Describing the benefits of its technology, in as little as 30 minutes, the winter fleet again and training is undertaken before the
the company said: “Airfield clearances consists of 35 machines owned by the Brussels machinery is deployed.
are hard to predict and thus difficult to Airport Company, but when necessary and the Munich Airport also owns its own winter
plan, especially in winter. This makes conditions demand, external partners can lease operations equipment. However, a slightly
it crucial to have snow removal units additional machines to the airport to help with unusual arrangement sees farmers and
operated with pinpoint precision by a
specific situations. haulage contractors from the immediate airport
single vehicle operator to remove snow
AFS Aviation, based at Lasham Airfield surroundings provide the personnel backbone of
A satellite-based from runways when extreme weather
strikes without warning during the winter in Hampshire, UK, supplies aviation fuel the winter service. These roughly 540 co-workers,
navigation system
months, and they require no additional equipment to aircraft and airfield operators, as who operate more than 133 of their own vehicles,
ensures smooth
landings at Finland’s vehicle and staff scheduling.” well as winter-resilience solutions. It also offers are deployed for clearing and snow removal at
Tampere-Pirkkala Kongsberg, Norway-based Yeti Move customers the option of leasing equipment just the airport, although due to the current reduced
Airport, even when it (formally Yeti Snow Technology) has also for the winter months. This gives operators the traffic levels, only 72 vehicles are in operation.
is snowing Finavia developed self-driving runway sweepers

64 airports of the world // January - February 2022

that can clear snow in formation, no
matter the weather. Following a pilot
scheme in 2018 at Fagernes Airport in
Norway, the ploughs were rolled out for
testing at Oslo Airport. Guided by GPS,
the technology offers a higher capacity
and greater clearing width, reducing the
number of vehicles and lessening its
environmental impact.
Vestergaard, a leading GSE supplier
headquartered in Roskilde, around
30 miles from the Danish capital of
Copenhagen, said it was working
towards introducing autonomous
vehicles and operations which would be
introduced in the coming years.
However, TCR sounded a note
of caution about the application of
autonomous equipment for aircraft,
warning that due to the “critical
importance of de-icing on safety and
on-time performance, the dream of
robotised de-icing remains a long-term
ambition rather than something to be
expected tomorrow.”
The ice issue
Clearing snow and ice is of paramount
importance both to clear runways
and taxiways of obstacles and to
ensure airframe surfaces are free of
contamination. The Air Florida Flight
90 crash in 1982, which saw a Boeing
737 crash shortly after take-off from
Washington/National (now known today
as Reagan National), put a spotlight
on the importance of de-icing prior
to flight. The aircraft was unable to
climb sufficiently following a failed
de-icing procedure, which led to ice
accumulating on the jet’s wings. The
crash prompted significant changes in
how pre-flight de-icing was carried out.
Aircraft must now be de- or anti-iced
immediately prior to take-off, and each
product is limited to a window within
which the plane must take off or return
to the stand to be de-iced again.
Surfaces on the ground which are
contaminated with aircraft de-icing
fluid can be hazardous and slippery,
particularly painted areas, and an Unusually, local
additional danger comes from de-icing farmers and haulage
fluid which is transferred from the apron contractors form the
to pedestrian walkways. Rock salt and bulk of the winter
grit can be used in certain areas of the service workforce
airport but should not be used to de-ice at Munich Airport
airside surfaces due to the corrosive in Bavaria Alex Tino
Friedel ATF Pictures/
effect they can have on aircraft.
Munich Airport
Heathrow Airport uses liquid anti-icing,
commonly referred to as Glycol or
Konsin, which is an ethylene glycol-
based product particularly suited for
use on the runway to prevent the
settling of ice or snow. It quickly
removes ice that has formed by turning
it into a liquid solution with a much
lower freezing point.
GSE providers are assessing with
increasing urgency the environmental
impact of their products. Liesbeth
Moereels, TCR’s marketing and
communication manager, told Airports of
the World that the company was focusing
on how it could reduce its environmental
footprint: “An example of what can be
Denmark’s
Vestergaard is
working towards
introducing
autonomous vehicles
and operations
Vestergaard
www.key.aero 65
For Finavia, winter
operations have Ever more extreme weather
continued as normal,
despite the COVID-19 The effects of climate change are already
pandemic Finavia being felt in the form of more extreme weather
events globally, from increasingly severe storms
to changes in the jet stream, and this only
reinforces the necessity for robust airport winter
operations. Total snowfall levels are expected
to decrease, largely because more winter
precipitation will fall as rain instead, but experts
believe there could be an increase in
the number of days when there is heavy
snowfall, as well as winter storms in areas that
have not historically seen much snow.
Extreme winters across Europe in 2010/11 and
2017/18 caused major disruption at airports.
Delays and cancellations at London/Heathrow
over the 2017-2018 winter period came after
the hub spent £37m on its winter resilience
programme, including doubling its snow clearing
vehicles and increasing de-icer supplies.
More extreme weather is likely to have a greater
impact on airports, such as those in London,
which do not have to deal with snow and ice
regularly. A report by the International Society of
City and Regional Planners noted that: “Airports
that are more likely to deal with extreme
weather conditions on a regular basis are also
likely to invest more heavily in their equipment
and optimise climate resilience.” The report
cited Stockholm’s Arlanda airport as a facility
that was well-placed to cope with an increase
in the frequency and intensity of winter storms.
The International Civil Aviation Organization
(ICAO) has warned that the warming planet will
necessitate increased use of pavement heaters
and aircraft de-icing and anti-icing, as well as
reducing overall airport capacity.

Vilnius Airport has done is using a mix of de-icing fluid and

plans to construct an hot water, tweaking it by 1% increments.
automated de-icing This allows us to minimise the use of
liquid recycling Glycol while still ensuring compliance
plant in 2022 with an airline’s safety and operational
Lithuanian Airports standards. Another example is the
hydraulic oil used within the de-icer
itself. TCR uses only a specific type of
oil that minimises the impact on the
environment in the case of an oil leak.”
At Brussels Airport, all three of its
remote de-icing platforms are
connected to a water treatment plant,
allowing wastewater from de-icing to
drain away and undergo biological
water purification. In Lithuania, Vilnius
Airport has plans to build an automated
aircraft de-icing recycling plant in
2022. This would be capable of
treating contaminated wastewater, with
some of the separated materials then
used as a raw material to produce
new de-icing fluids.

Heated runways
Technology that heats runways is touted
as one potential solution to the problem
of keeping airports open during winter
storms. In the United States, researchers
have trialled electrodes embedded
During the
reconstruction of
within the concrete slabs of a runway
Vilnius Airport, to melt accumulated snow and ice in
Lithuanian Airports minutes. The team leading the project
will install four at Des Moines International Airport in
de-icing sites Iowa concluded that installing such
Lithuanian Airports technology at a medium-sized airport

66 airports of the world // January - February 2022

would cost around $200m, although
they say the savings in reduced
disruption would more than match
that figure. The slabs of electrically
conductive concrete consist of 1%
carbon fibre and a mix of cement, sand
and rocks – the carbon fibre allows
the concrete to conduct electricity, and
heat is generated by resistance to the
moving electrons.
Aside from being fast and effective,
heated concrete panels also reduce
the need for de-icing fluids and
wastewater treatment processes, which
can be costly and take their toll on the
environment. Halil Ceylan of Iowa State
University said: “We have proven this
technology does work. Our goal is to
keep airports open, safe and accessible.
We don’t want any slips or falls, or
any aircraft skidding off runways. Our
technologies can contribute to providing
a safe environment and fewer delays.”
The run-off conundrum
Just as heated runways create
meltwater which must be dealt with, the
job of a winter operations team at any
large airport is not simply to remove the
snow or ice, but to dispose of it safely.
Most airports have a designated
storage area where snow can be taken
to melt. At Dublin Airport, for example,
snow cleared from the runways is
transported in a convoy of trucks to
specific areas at remote parts of the
airfield, and the drainage is managed to
prevent pollution from de- or anti-icing
fluids and other aircraft contaminants.
However, one European operator
does things differently. Avinor, the state-
owned operator of most of Norway’s
civil airports, has overseen an innovative
project to make Oslo the first gateway
in the world to have its terminals
cooled by collected snow. The snow
is divided into two categories – clean
and contaminated (with or without
de-icing chemicals) – with the unclean
snow collected, melted and treated at
a wastewater plant. The clean snow is
collected in a large storage basin, where
it is covered with insulative sawdust
to keep it cold. The meltwater is then
used with a heat exchanger and fed into
the central cooling system to lower the
temperature inside the terminal on hot
Munich has 30
vehicles for snow
clearance, including
eight 'oversized'
trucks with a load
volume of 80m3
Munich Airport
This Widerøe
Bombardier Dash
8-400, LN-WDE (c/n
4183), undergoes
de-icing in
Bergen, Norway
AirTeamImages.com/
Ryan.W
summer days, then it is returned to the de-icing – with Menzies Aviation at its
storage basin to be cooled and reused. home base in the Norwegian capital.
A technique which appears to be more A second deal was signed with Aviator
popular across the Atlantic is snow- Airport Alliance for Flyr's full passenger-
melting, with equipment that can melt and ramp-handling services, including
snow and ice at a rate of 135 tons per de-icing, at a range of other Norwegian
hour used at a number of major airports, airports, among them Bergen,
including Denver and Minneapolis. Trondheim and Stavanger.
Over the summer, Menzies Aviation Rovaniemi Airport
Contracts signed was also awarded a de-icing contract in Finland sits on
COVID-19 may have put the with Canadian carrier WestJet for its the boundary of the
brakes on the wider aviation flights into Amsterdam’s Schiphol Arctic Circle and is,
sector, but it did not stop lucrative Airport. In September, Aviator signed according to Finavia,
contracts being signed with both an additional contract with the official airport
emerging and established carriers. Norwegian Air for de-icing services of Father Christmas,
consequently
Norway’s Flyr, which commenced at airports across Norway.
receiving high
passenger flight operations on Elsewhere, Yeti Move entered an
amounts of air
June 30, 2021, serving domestic eight-year agreement with Avinor traffic from visitors
routes from Oslo as well as worth up to €40m, which heading to Lapland
international services to European includes the purchase of runway each winter
leisure destinations, agreed a sweepers for use at the AirTeamImages.
ground-handling contract – including operator’s airports. com/4x6zk-moni shafir
www.key.aero 67
We present a selection of images of visiting aircraft from airports around the UK. For the most part they’re commercial jets, but almost all
of them are unusual types, wearing new or unique liveries, or first visits by an airline or airliner to a particular airport. If you see something
out of the ordinary while on your travels, please send in your pictures. Photos can be sent by email to aow@keypublishing.com
Please ensure you provide full details with the images, particularly the date, location, airline name and aircraft identity.
RIGHT: With sustainability
taking centre stage during the
Glasgow
Cop26 conference in Glasgow
– a common theme of this
edition of UK Visitors
– British Airways painted
Airbus A320neo, G-TTNA
(c/n 8108), in this 'BA Better
World' livery to highlight its use
of sustainable aviation fuel
Richard Vandervord

RIGHT: S7 Airlines Cargo Boeing

737-800BCF, VP-BEN
London/Heathrow
(c/n 33545), operated a freight
charter between Moscow/
Domodedovo and London/
Heathrow on October 6
Richard Vandervord

LEFT: On October 26, Qatar

East Midlands Airways began a new service
connecting its Doha base with
East Midlands Airport and Oslo
using Boeing 777Fs
Karl Nixon

LEFT: Flybe's back!

Exeter Almost two years after the
Exeter-based regional collapsed,
the company is back with a
new Birmingham HQ. The De
Havilland Canada DHC 8-400s
and purple paint have remained
Ian Simpson

68 airports of the world // January - February 2022

RIGHT: The Government of
South Korea Boeing 747-400,
Glasgow
10001 (c/n 26412), passed
through Gatwick while
transporting dignitaries to the
C26 conference in Glasgow. The
VIP jet is set to be replaced by a
former Korean Air Boeing
747-8 in the coming months
Richard Vandervord

RIGHT: The COP26 summit is

likely to have been one of the
Glasgow
last outings for the Egyptian
government's 1994-built Airbus
A340-200, SU-GGG (c/n 061).
The jet is set to be replaced
with a Boeing 747-8 originally
intended for Lufthansa
Mark Stevens
Long Reach Images

LEFT: Bolivian President Luis

Birmingham Alberto Arce Catacora capped
off his attendance at Cop26
by briefly visiting Warwick
University, from where he
graduated in 1997. This Fuerza
Aérea Boliviana Dassault
Falcon 900EX, FAB-001
(c/n 209), called in at
Birmingham Airport for the visit
George Aldridge/v1images.com

LEFT: Royal Saudi Air Force

East Midlands Airbus A330 MRTT, 2405
(c/n 1478), passed through
East Midlands Airport in
early October in support of a
Boeing RE-3A TASS (Tactical
Airborne Surveillance System)
understood to be heading
to the US for modifications.
The 24 Sqn tanker wears
markings celebrating the 89th
anniversary of the Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia
Karl Nixon

www.key.aero 69
 Glasgow

TOP: The Kenyan COP26

contingent was transported
Prestwick
to the global climate summit
onboard Kenya Airways Boeing
787-8 Dreamliner, 5Y-KZD
(c/n 36041), which has received
'Come live the magic!'
special colours
Ashley French

RIGHT: Kuwait Airways Airbus

A330-800, 9K-APG (c/n 1969),
was deployed alongside the
State of Kuwait's Boeing BBJ3,
9K-GCC (c/n 37632) for COP26
Martin Third

LEFT: Honduran President Juan

Prestwick Orlando Hernández arrived
and departed the summit on
board Embraer Legacy 600,
FAH001 (c/n 14501041)
Mark Stevens
Long Reach Images

BELOW: Emirates Airbus

A380-800, A6-EEU (c/n 147),
in a striking livery to promote
Dubai Expo 2020. It visited
Manchester on October 5
Nik French

Manchester

70 airports of the world // January - February 2022

RIGHT: Having dropped off
delegates, many COP26-linked
Prestwick
aircraft were flown to other
UK airfields to free up parking
at the Glaswegian gateway.
The Japanese Air Self Defense
Force bucked this trend as its
Boeing 777-300ER, 80-1112
(c/n 62440) returned to New
Chitose, Japan, after a 12-hour
stay in Scotland
SH

RIGHT: Former ASL Airlines

France Boeing 737-400F,
London/Southend
F-GZTT (c/n 27632), was
repainted at Southend ahead
of being leased to Líneas
Aéreas Suramericanas Cargo
Keith Burton

LEFT: South American types

Prestwick were among the most unusual
seen at Scottish airports for the
COP26. The largest included an
Aerolíneas Argentinas Airbus
A330 and this Colombian Air
Force Boeing 767-200ER Multi
Mission Tanker Transport,
FAC1202 (c/n 24157)
Mark Stevens
Long Reach Images

BELOW: Mauritania Airlines

Boeing 737 MAX 8, 5T-CLJ,
flew direct from Nouakchott
to Glasgow to enable the
country's president, Mohamed
Ould Ghazouani, to speak at
the COP26. The four-year-old
jet's livery celebrates the first
MAX 8 for the carrier
Mark Stevens
Long Reach Images

Glasgow

www.key.aero 71
 FEATURE

VCV
VICTORVILLE, CALIFOR
NIA
22
I9 90 10 2A O W 20

VICTORVIL
More Than Meets th

Chris Sloan travels to California

to learn why this quirky desert
facility is far more than an
aviation retirement home

72 airports of the world // January - February 2022

 S
ome 80 miles east of Los Angeles
in California's High Desert lies an
airport with 480 resident airliners.
It’s a bustling hub of activity
and critical to the world’s commercial
aviation ecosystem. Yet, there are
LLE
no passengers, no scheduled flights and
no air freight facilities.
I know what you’re thinking – it’s got
to be Mojave Air and Space Port (MJV)
or perhaps it could be San Bernardino
International (SBD)? Chances are you’ve
never heard of the Southern California
Logistics Airport (SCLA), but you might
be more familiar with its shorthand
he Sky
moniker, Victorville, named after the
nearby city and the inspiration for its
IATA code VCV.
SCLA’s main role is as an aviation
storage depot or ‘boneyard’. Victorville
stands proudly alongside similar sites
such as Pinal, Mojave, Roswell and
Goodyear within the US, and those
further afield in Nantes in France and
Alice Springs in the Australian outback.
Put simply, bad news is good business
for airfields of this type. At not even 30
years old, SCLA has gained prominence
over the last couple of decades in the
wake of events that have shaken the
aviation industry. Traumas such as 9/11,
the 2008 global economic crisis and
now COVID-19 have been catalysts
for SCLA and other such facilities. The
explosion in new and more fuel efficient
fleets has also hastened the early
retirement of older airliners.
Notable residents
Delta Air Lines parked 120 aircraft at
SCLA at the onset of the coronavirus
pandemic, including Airbus A321s,
Boeing 757s and 767s, along with 13
examples of their permanently retired
777-200ER and 777-200LR. This
resulted in taxiways and one of the
runways effectively being turned into
an aircraft parking lot. Southwest Airlines’
Other significant fleets in short- and Boeing 737 MAX
long-term storage at SCLA include nine aircraft at Victorville
of United Airlines’ temporarily grounded on March 27, 2019,
Pratt & Whitney PW4000 powered 777- after the global
200s following an uncontained engine grounding of the type
failure, Southwest’s retired 737-300s Mario Tama/
Getty Images
www.key.aero 73
 The sprawling site was
transformed during the peak
of the pandemic. This was
the scene in March 2020
AirTeamImages.com/John Kilmer

74 airports of the world // January - February 2022

and 700NGs (120 before the pandemic,
now reduced to approximately 53 737-
700s as of November 2021), Qantas
A380s awaiting their return to service
and a consignment of Lufthansa’s retired
MD-11s. The treasure trove doesn’t end
there – further highlights include the
Mexican government’s 787 that was
sold off in 2018 at the order of President
Andrés Obrador and United Airlines’
‘Friendship 747-400’, the company’s last
passenger-carrying jumbo.
Speaking to Airports of the World, VCV
director Eric Ray recounted the chaos
of the early days of the COVID-19
pandemic: “The phone was just ringing
off the hook from our various tenants,
as well as airlines and other storage
companies from other parts of the
country who needed storage space.
When we first started hearing about
COVID, by no means did I think it
was going to grow to this proportion.
Then it became obvious it was going
to grow and get a lot worse before
getting better. At that point, we were Before a pivot
just figuring out ‘How do we engage towards its current
with our tenants to move as many role, the site
airplanes and tighten them up as was known as
much as possible?’ All the things that Southern California
we had to do to maximise the use of International Airport
the existing pavement. It just became Via author
a juggling act.”
Even before the word ‘COVID’
entered the global lexicon, VCV’s
services were in high demand.
Dallas-based LCC Southwest George Air Force
Airlines positioned its entire fleet of Base, in use until
35 Boeing 737-8s during the MAX 1992, played a key
grounding, all of which were flown in role in many
within a 24-hour period. global conflicts
Today, SCLA is a hub for the Getty Images/
737 MAX reworking programme, University of
handling up to 80 of approximately Southern California
450 jets that need to be modified before
their return to service or handover models, Ray sees only growth in Airport Statistics
to airline customers. With deliveries storage and dismantling: “Normally IATA code: VCV
picking up, there were 27 MAXs left you'd say about 50% of the time the
ICAO code: KVCV
as of the end of October 2021. Aside owner would end up putting the aircraft
from the Boeing facilities in Washington back into service. Half of the time they Location: 34°35′51″N 117°22′59″W
and South Carolina, there are more say: 'You know what? We're done.′ Elevation: 2,885ft (879m)
787s parked at VCV than virtually any For the last two years we've seen the 17/35 - 15,050ft (4,587m)
other airport in the world. At the time of numbers go way higher.” Runway: 03/21 - 9,138ft (2,785m)
writing, there were 62 Dreamliners at But to think of SCLA as a lonely airport Frequencies: ATIS: 135.475
Victorville out of roughly 100 worldwide where planes go to die, have their parts
Ground: 124.45
that were awaiting modifications and/ harvested, airframes scrapped and their
or delivery. Then there are nearly 250 carcasses recycled is to miss the point. Tower: 118.35
end-of-life aircraft sitting on the field, While it may appear like a graveyard to Website: www.victorvilleca.gov/
awaiting their fate at the merciless fall of the naked eye, VCV is a vibrant aviation
the scrapper’s axe. hub, with a particular emphasis on serving
Asked about the revenue this work the commercial aviation sector. “It's an
generates, Ray says it is all just a economic cluster. We always look at
matter of simple mathematics: “For tenants for their ability to add value in that
storage, we might get $800 a month synergistic circle. So obviously the more
on a big widebody. The cost to the you can do to bring materials and labour
end-user – an OEM, airline or leasing in-house at the airport, the better off all the
company from an MRO or storage tenants are,” said the airport director.
company such as ComAV – is in the
thousands. It might cost $6,000-$8,000 Historical context
a month to keep that airplane in storage SCLA began life in 1940 as a pilot and
with maintenance.” bombardier training facility, just a few
As airplanes are retired at relatively months before the United States joined
younger ages in favour of more fuel World War Two. It became George Air Copyright © 2022 Jeppesen All rights reserved. The charts are available to the flight simulation
efficient and environmentally friendly Force Base (GAFB) on June 2, 1950, community via Navigraph Charts, https://www.navigraph.com. (Not for airborne/operational use)

www.key.aero 75
Even before the named after Brigadier General Harold H
pandemic, Victorville George, a World War One flying ace who,
was busy. This photo, at the time of his death in 1942, was the
taken on March 28,
chief of staff for Far Eastern Air Forces.
2019, shows jets GAFB supported the Korean War efforts
from various airlines with the arrival of its first jets: the F-86
being stored at Sabre in 1950. In 1964, the F-4 Phantom
the site II arrived to support the Vietnam conflict
Mark Ralston/AFP
and, in the mid 1970s, the F-4 Weasel and
via Getty Images
F-106F Wild Weasel arrived to counter
Soviet surface-to-air threats.
As the Cold War wound down and
budget cuts kicked in, the US Secretary
of Defense announced on December
29, 1988, that GAFB was selected for
closure by the end of 1992. Even in its
waning days, the complex had one final
defence role to play during the first Gulf
War as the base’s 831st AD and 35th
TFW began sending troops and aircraft
to the Middle East to support Operation
Desert Shield.
Base closures often have a calamitous
effect on local economies. At Victorville,
7,000 jobs were potentially about
to vanish, which would have had a
disastrous knock-on effect for the
region’s businesses and employment
prospects. To head off this looming
disaster, the Victor Valley Economic
Development Authority (VVEDA) was
formed in October 1989 to transition the
military base towards private and public
industrial purposes. GAFB formally
closed on December 15, 1992, just as the
country was mired in a nasty recession,
with the aerospace-heavy Southern
California region particularly hard hit.
76 airports of the world // January - February 2022
Record-breaking
Cessna wheelie!
SCLA can add a world record to its long list of
achievements. On St Valentine’s Day 2020,
aviation historian, writer and pilot Christopher
Freeze set a new Guinness World Record
pulling off a 14,319-foot ‘soft field landing roll’
— essentially the longest wheelie by distance in
an aeroplane. His Cessna’s nose-gear landing
flare was sustained in the air for three minutes
and 19 seconds across 2.71 miles!
Despite the headwinds, the airfield
– christened Southern California
International Airport – opened to civil
traffic on October 28, 1994. Reflecting
on the period, Ray said the region was
granted the airfield for free, but that
much of the land and its infrastructure
was valued at less than zero: “[The
military] gave us a whole lot of costs. We
had to buy all the other stuff like utilities,
a water system. Then once you had
bought their 40-year-old junk, you had
to fix it up because it didn't meet any of
the civilian standards. So, we were stuck
with all this property and, to a large
degree, the only thing you could do
with it [was] to demolish it, which was, of
course, another expense.”
The City of Victorville was left
principally in charge of transitioning
the site towards a fully dedicated
5,000-acre business and logistics park
serving aerospace, manufacturing and
distribution companies. That said, the
city doesn’t own the facility, with VCV
operating as a separate legal entity
controlled by the Southern California
Logistics Airports Authority, not unlike
the Port Authority of New York and New
Jersey. Victorville provides support
services such as payroll and finance to
the facility, with the city council serving
on the airport authorities’ board.
In 1997, the site was rebranded as
Southern California Logistics Airport
with the goal of 10,000 jobs when
fully developed. Thus far, according
to SCLA, 3,086 of the 7,000 lost jobs
have been replaced. At the time of
writing, 53 companies and organisations
have a presence at the facility, with
approximately 97% of tenable building
space utilised and new construction
continuing. In a stark turnaround from its
early years, the airport is now completely
self-sustaining financially and has
become a powerful economic engine in
the High Desert region.
Finding a niche
With cargo and logistics shifting
away from congested Los Angeles
International (LAX) to regional outlier
airports such as Ontario International
(ONT) and San Bernardino (SBD), the
original vision and branding called for
VCV to become a cargo hub.
The US Department of Commerce
granted SCLA the status of a foreign
trade zone, designed to attract
international freight to the airport for Not all of the aircraft
connecting to the centrally located at the facility are in
shipping nodes. The Department of short-term storage
Transportation approved a $4.9 million – many see out their
grant to extend runway 17/35 by 3,000ft final days here before
to 15,050ft, making it the second-longest being recycled
public runway in the US. AirTeamImages.com/
But with no cargo service ultimately Andrew Hunt
materialising, what does VCV do with
such a long runway? “You maintain it,
you pay for lights on the end of it,” said
Ray. Runway 17/35 was later shortened
from 15,050ft to 13,051ft at the request
of the FAA, with the threshold on 17
relocated 1,999ft south. This ‘rightsizing’
was completed in July 2021.
While cargo service hasn’t materialised
thus far, Ray sees that situation changing
in the future: “The market is starting
to ripen. You have to remember that
the High Desert only has half-a-million
people in five cities. That's not a big
market. It is now improved by the Best known as a
fact that it's one of the busiest freight 'boneyard’, the
corridors in the country, but you have to complex also serves a
wait for the market to come.” wider range of flight-
related industries
He pointed out that San Bernardino’s
Via author
single-runway gateway is reaching
capacity, especially with e-commerce
giant Amazon building on more than
120-140 acres of property nearby.
With the exponential growth of
online retailing and FedEx’s existing
maintenance/storage presence at
Boeing 737 MAX jets
VCV, airport management believe its
were plentiful at the
synergies with the world’s largest freight facility in late 2021
airline are a natural fit. “We see that Via author
trend coming. We're doing the things
that prepare us so that the aeronautical
components are in place and ready
to go when that larger shift happens,”
revealed Ray.
With cargo under serious
consideration, could the future
potentially hold more traditional

www.key.aero 77

This dramatic aerial scheduled links? Alas, with a small
image shows a catchment area in the Victor Valley,
Qantas Boeing passenger service appears to be a more
747-400 being distant prospect. “Passenger activity
torn down at the doesn't come until the market is there.
California facility The airlines bring about a whole other
AirTeamImages.com/
set of issues and problems and that's
John Kilmer
really not who we are,” reflected Ray.
The director’s comments are reinforced
by the fact that fast-growing Ontario
International Airport, located just 48
miles south on Interstate 15, has plenty
of capacity for growth, plus a larger
Delta Air Lines was catchment area.
one of the biggest Other nearby gateways continue
users of the airport to have storage and maintenance
at the peak of the operations, but many are also pivoting
pandemic their core missions. For example Mojave
David McNew/ is becoming more geared to being a
Getty Images spaceport, while San Bernardino is
78 airports of the world // January - February 2022
evolving into more of a cargo airport
with ABX, Amazon Air, FedEx and UPS
continuing to grow their operations
there. For its part, SCLA is doubling
down on its niche: aviation maintenance.
This specialism grew organically
out of SCLA’s storage business. The
virtuous cycle of synergies began with
Boeing Capital, who would often bring
aircraft coming off lease to VCV for
maintenance and/or storage with MRO
company ComAV, before the examples
were sold or traded. Boeing then added
its AOG (aircraft on ground) group, which
not only makes repairs under warranty
and service bulletins, but also acts as a
completion centre for newly built aircraft.
Modifications include avionics, cabin
fitting, Wi-Fi and inflight entertainment
systems, performed under Boeing
warranty. The non-union shop allows
them to use reduced price labour to
provide the same quality product that
Boeing is willing to stand behind, under
direct company supervision. Among
the Boeing jets at VCV were two very
special residents – the undelivered
747-8is which were once destined for
now-defunct Russian airline TransAero
and are now becoming the next Air
Force Ones. Those stored aircraft have
now been flown to Boeing’s San Antonio
modification centre.
Boeing’s pain has ultimately been
VCV’s gain. In an economic analysis
of the knock-on effect of the MAX
grounding on the broader economy
in terms of services such as lodging,
car rentals, restaurants and fuel, the
spend was estimated to be $406,589
per month with a $51,735 monthly
contribution to local tax revenue.
Further strengths
The airport’s proximity to the restricted
airspace above and around Edwards
Air Force Base has turned VCV into a
flight testing mecca.
Boeing has a long-running flight
testing presence with the 787, 737
MAX and now the 777-9 all enjoying
sizeable test programmes at the
California site. In addition to this,
General Electric Aviation’s flight test
programme and 747-400 testbed are
based at Victorville, with the 737 MAX’s
LEAP propulsion package and GE9X
– the world’s largest jet airliner engine
– under its massive wing. Past flight test
visitors have included Virgin Galactic
with its 747 ‘Cosmic Girl’ platform for
its Orbital Launch vehicle, Rolls-Royce
Trent 1000 engines and Mitsubishi for
its fledgling MRJ SpaceJet. In a similar
economic analysis to that completed for
the 737 MAX, SCLA pegged a $465,249
boost in community spend and tax
revenue of $157,249 for the Mitsubishi
programme alone.
Of the 53 companies that have a
presence at SCLA, the largest is the
MRO and storage company ComAv. The
firm is involved with more than half of the
aircraft at VCV in active storage, long-
term storage, tear down or undergoing
maintenance and modifications. Other
prominent names such as the Aircraft
Recycling Corporation, CaVu Aerospace
and First Class Air Support round out the
end-of-life aircraft recycling contingent at
the site. Elsewhere, one of the industry’s
foremost aircraft painters and home to
many a bespoke livery, IAC International
Aerospace Coatings is a permanent
tenant, with two narrowbody and two
widebody paint hangars at VCV.
James Murawski, the airport’s
operations and finance manager,
put the varying projects at SCLA into
numbers: “We reported to the FAA last
year that we had 4,119 general aviation
movements out of a total of 16,982.
This does not include overflights, which
adds another 10,000 to our total count
(26,635 tower operations). We also During the author's
showed 2,644 air taxi operations in visit, he gained a
the last year. As for based aircraft, we rare glimpse into
currently show one single-engine, 62 the teardown work
jets and four helicopters.” involved in safely
SCLA is also complementing its and efficiently
commercial aviation business by dismantling a jet
welcoming civil and military contractor Via author
tenants and general aviation
manufacturing. One example of this
is Otto Aviation, which has based its
Celera 500L test programme at the
site since 2020, with entry into service
targeted for 2023-2025.
Although commercial activities
still dominate the facility, defence
contractors are a growing part of the
wider VCV portfolio. General Atomics
– the manufacturer of the MQ-1s, the
first drone for military use – has a Victorville is
maintenance and overhaul facility at expanding its service
the site. The firm is bringing high-time portfolio to include
aircraft in for repairs and upgrades, the defence sector
kitting them out with everything from AirTeamImages.com/
new avionics to a more robust heavy- John Kilmer
duty landing gear. It is also making other
changes on its aircraft to allow them to
carry more payload and perhaps have a
more diverse role in any future conflicts.
The airport also encompasses
companies undertaking various research
and development work for the Defense
Advanced Research Project Agency
(DARPA), including designing helicopter California's dry
rotors and blades that produce less desert climate is
noise. This type of technology was a perfect place to
effectively used in the stealth Black store surplus aircraft
Hawk helicopter raids of Osama bin AirTeamImages.com/
Laden’s compound in Pakistan. Simon Willson

www.key.aero 79
 airport authority partnered with real
estate specialist Sterling Development
on a huge project expansion on the
former GAFB property. This included a
1,000,000sq ft Keurig Dr Pepper bottling
plant, an Amazon distribution centre and
Iron Mountain’s 700,000sq ft facility.
“SCLA is going to be a completely
different place in the next ten years,”
said Ray.
“We're going to see a lot of neat things
happening in the manufacturing sector.
We are doing a development deal
with a company that will be producing
hydrogen and we're in negotiation of the
lease with a company that's in the UAV
[unmanned aerial vehicle] space.”
With its proximity to Hollywood, SCLA is
Air freight looks also a much sought-after filming location.
likely to play The film-makers responsible for Contact,
an increasingly Face/Off, Pushing Tin, Space Cowboys,
important role in Oceans Eleven, The Sum of All Fears, The
the longer term Hulk, Jarhead, The Fast and the Furious:
fortunes of the site Tokyo Drift, Rampage and, most recently
AirTeamImages.com/ director Christopher Nolan’s Tenet have
John Kilmer all used the complex as a location. In
fact, the author’s first experience with
As global carriers
VCV was back in 2001 when he covered
modernise their
production for the USA Network’s TV
fleets, some
series Combat Missions, which was
examples, such as
the Boeing 747 have filmed on the former GAFB grounds.
fallen out of favour There’s clearly more to Southern
Via author California Logistics Airport than meets
the eye, but the airport isn’t losing sight
Even the Queen of its unique market-position.
of the Skies is not “There has to be an airport like
immune to the ours for the end-of-life cycle, for the
passage of time parts busines and, of course, all the
Via author more fruitful things like maintenance,”
The pandemic has reflected Ray.
led airlines from “Without that need being fulfilled, the
around the world to passenger airports and the airlines will
use the California site have some real struggles trying to try to
to safely store aircraft maintain their operations.”
Via author With a proud history, an exciting
present and hugely ambitious plans for
Manufacturing is also taking hold. ft building and broken ground on a the future, the team at VCV are certainly
Karem Aircraft develops and builds new facility that will house its corporate making a little magic in the desert.
advanced fixed-wing and rotary- headquarters, engineering, research,
wing aircraft, including manned and laboratories and manufacturing efforts –
unmanned high-efficiency tiltrotors. it literally is a case of ‘watch this space’. Acknowledgements
Additionally, SCLA is looking to the The author wishes to thank James Murawski,
stars and expanding its orbit into space. Soda success Eric Ray and Sue Jones of SCLA and the city of
Exquadrum, an emerging space launch The team at VCV have also been Victorville for their co-operation and assistance
vehicle company with a rocket test working hard to grow the site’s non- with this story.
facility at VCV, has leased a 40,000sq aviation components. Early on, the

80 airports of the world // January - February 2022

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