News in Brief

Alaska Airlines names Bay Area vice president

SEATTLE - Alaska Air Group's board of directors named Annabel R. Chang vice president, Bay Area. In this new position, Chang will shape and execute Alaska Airlines' strategic external relations, local government advocacy and community relations efforts in the San Francisco Bay Area, building upon the success Virgin America has achieved in the last nine years. She will also provide local support and insight for the company's sales and marketing efforts in the Bay Area. 

IATA's 30th International Ground Handling Conference, Bangkok

The International Air Transport Association’s 30th International Ground Handling Conference (IGHC)  hosted by Thai Airways taking place from 21 – 24 May, 2017 at the Centara Grand Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand.

The conference will open with three high-level speeches. Mr Nick Careen, Senior Vice President, Airport, Passenger, Cargo and Security, IATA, Mr Sirote Duangratana, General Manager of Suvarnabhumi Airport, Airports of Thailand (AOT) Mr Arkhom will set the stage for the conference in a welcome address.

More than 650 high-level delegates from airlines, cargo operators, airports, freight forwards and shippers from across the cargo value chain are expected to attend this year’s World Cargo Symposium. The full conference program is available here.

The 73rd IATA Annual General Meeting (AGM) and World Air Transport Summit in Cancun, Mexico, from 4 to 6 June 2017.

This year’s AGM occurs as the airline industry is on track to deliver another strong financial performance, including covering its cost of capital for a record third consecutive year. But it also takes place against the backdrop of a growing movement in some parts of the world toward restricted borders and trade protectionism. This threatens to deny the benefits of globalization that aviation enables. Meanwhile, the recent measures to restrict the carriage of large electronics on certain routes re-emphasizes that air transport continues to be a target for terrorists. These subjects, and others, are on the agenda at the 73rd AGM.

Program highlights will include

·  The IATA Director General’s Report on the Industry

·  Updated Airline Economic Outlook

·  Keynote address on Human Trafficking

·  The CEO panel

·  Media briefings on key issues, including Safety, Security and the Environment

·  Opportunity to interview IATA subject matter experts

ALPA Statement Regarding Service Disruptions at Spirit Airlines

“Spirit pilots are committed to helping impacted passengers and the company restore normal operations. Spirit pilots were instrumental in returning operations to normal in 2015 and several times since then by going above and beyond their schedules, and waiving contractual restrictions in order to accept more flying. The court has spoken and Spirit pilots will fully comply with the order handed down, which is completely in line with our overriding goal: the resumption of normal operations. We call on the company to join forces with ALPA and the Spirit pilots to do just that.”