The Week In Travel

IATA has revealed this week that global air traffic in November 2023 reached 99% of the November 2019 peak, with revenue passenger kilometres rising 29.7% compared to November 2022. International traffic increased by 26.4%, while domestic traffic saw a 34.8% YoY surge, surpassing November 2019 levels by 6.7%. Although international travel is still 5.5% below pre-pandemic levels, domestic markets have consistently exceeded those levels since April 2022.

In sustainability news, Joby Aviation, a US air taxi manufacturer, has partnered with Clay Lacy Aviation to introduce the first electric air taxi charger in Southern California. The Global Electric Aviation Charging System (GEACS) will be integrated into Clay Lacy’s terminal redevelopment at John Wayne Airport in Orange County. This marks one of Joby’s initial ventures to install GEACS technology at an airport, supporting its plans for an air taxi network launch in the state.

In the UK, East Midlands Airport (EMA) has launched a £120m modernisation project, prioritising terminal upgrades, taxiway reconstruction, and air traffic control enhancements. Initial focus is on repairing the departure lounge roof to address leaks. EMA Managing Director Steve Griffiths claims the project’s main goals are to enhance passenger experience, emphasising confidence in the airport’s future growth.

In the corporate world, US-based airline JetBlue has revealed that its current COO, Joanna Geraghty, will assume the role of CEO in February, making her the first woman to lead a major US airline. Geraghty will succeed Robin Hayes in the role and has emphasised her commitment to “bring humanity” to the sector. Hayes will continue as a strategic advisor for several months after his nine-year tenure as CEO.

And finally, six-year-old Sadie’s dream of being an air hostess took off when, sporting her own Emirates uniform, she assisted with pre-flight tasks on a Manchester to Dubai journey. Prior to departure, Sadie jumped at the opportunity to helped out, checking tickets and directing passengers. Her mum, Chloe, shared how exciting the experience was for Sadie, revealing that she did not stop talking about her flight attendant experience for their whole holiday and even wanted to tell her teacher that she now ‘worked for Emirates’ on her first day back at school.