BIP Best Airport LUFTHANSA and Frankfurt Airport have been voted top of the class in terms of passenger baggage handling. This achievement is recognised in the "2009 BIP Best Airport Award" made by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which regularly examines the baggage handling performance of the world's major international airports as part of its Baggage Improvement Program (BIP). The IATA inspectors were particularly impressed by achievements in the transfer of time-critical baggage for passengers in transit, who account for a good 70 per cent of Lufthansa's passenger volume at Frankfurt, its largest hub. On the basis of up- to-the-minute flight data and the passenger itineraries, Lufthansa identifies very short transfer times due, for example, to delays caused by bad weather or congested airspace. The inspections conducted by IATA as part of the "BIP Best Airport Awards" are highly detailed. In all, 150 individual points in 22 core baggage transfer processes came under the microscope. Detroit concerns THE International Air Transport Association (IATA) urged the US Department of Homeland Security and its Transportation Security Administration to partner with industry to identify the most effective ways to address the evolving security challenge in light of the foiled terrorist plot to down a Detroit-bound aircraft. IATA CEO Giovanni Bisignani noted the need for short-term temporary and extraordinary security measures until the immediate threat has abated. But he cautioned that long-term solutions must include improved technology and effective risk assessment techniques. Numbers illustrate the scale of the challenge. In the 12 months to September 2009, air transport connected 2.2 billion passengers safely and securely. This includes 820 million travellers of whom 140 million were on US routes. Biofuel for environment QATAR Airways announced that they will carry out engineering and economic analysis in cooperation with the government and Airbus to move into the development of sustainable bio jet fuel that will also look into production and supply. Qatar Airways successfully conducted the world's first commercial flight powered by a gas-to-liquid fuel blend last October, which proved to be a significant development in the use of alternative fuels. Seven months ago, Qatar Airways and partners embarked on a detailed feasibility study on sustainable biomass-to-liquid jet fuel and possible by-products such as bio diesel. The study looked at all available bio feed stocks that would not affect the food or fresh water supply chain. It also carried out a feasibility study for existing and future production technologies. EGS hits gold EGYPTAIR Ground Services Company (EGS) announced a remarkable achievement last week, achieving a record LE200 million profit, despite the world financial crisis. "We are keen to look after our human resources and pay more care to prepare and create qualified technical and leading cadres, capable to boost the level of professonalism among our staff," asserted Hussein Massoud as he addressed EGS staff during the annual ceremony. A number of retired engineers, and employees along with 20 outstanding staff had been honoured in the ceremony. Established in 1932, EGS is the first ground handling company in the region. It provides arrival and departure services for more 130 airline companies flying to and from Egypt. EGS Chairman Abdel-Hameed Eid revealed the good news about 2009. "Thanks to the efforts of 4,500 specialised employees who serve among our staff we could overcome the terrible situation of the financial crisis," Eid stated. EGS handles more than 100,000 flights, 11,000,000 passengers, 1,000,000 tons of cargo, and 10 million pieces of luggage per year. "Meanwhile, we managed to obtain the ISAGO accreditation, enabling us to serve all aircraft operate to Egyptian airports. This reflected a remarkable increase in the number of our customers," Eid added. Excellence in education KUWAIT'S Wataniya Airways honoured the outstanding Kuwaiti students studying in Cairo's universities with free tickets. Hundreds of Kuwaiti students attended the event, organised by the National Union of Kuwaiti Students in Egypt and held at the Moevenpick Hotel in Cairo under the auspices of Kuwait's Ambassador to Egypt Rasheed Al-Hamad. "The airline sponsored the occasion as a sign of its commitment to support excellence in education and as an encouragement to the Kuwaiti students in Egypt," commented Wataniya Airways country manager, Maged Shenouda, who along with his Cairo team were present to showcase Wataniya Airways services and new student packages. At least fifty outstanding Kuwaiti students were awarded free tickets on Wataniya Airways for their accomplishments.travellers of whom 140 million were on US routes.
