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Vladimir Zubkov
TIACA Secretary General

You are already familiar with the CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) OUTBREAK TECHNICAL MEETINGS held in the ICAO virtual environment. Several weeks of joint work has resulted in a Concept Note called a “Working Document on a post‐COVID‐19 recovery path”.

This time it’s not only for information, but for your views and input. This is what ICAO asked all the international organizations to do – to contribute their positions.

Let me make a few comments based on the content of this document.

This document proposes possible recovery guidance (short, medium and long‐term) with respective influencing factors and foreseeable challenges associated.

In the Analysis of the economic impact of COVID‐19 on civil aviation we have some figures, but mostly limited to passenger carriers: approx. USD 90 to 118 billion potential loss of gross operating revenues of airlines. These estimates were based on the described scenarios of V‐ shaped and U-shaped paths.

Challenges faced by the aviation industry amid the COVID‐19 crisis, like decrease in demand and supply, liquidity and cashflow and employment, airport slots, travel and trade restrictions and several others are outlined.

Measures suggested, amongst them governments are called upon to support the industry through loans and loan guarantees, direct capital injection; tax alleviation including relief on fuel, payroll, income, ticket taxes and other levies.

Cargo is also featured there with the statement that travel policies resulted in removing significant cargo capacity provided via the bellies of passenger aircraft from the system, which is vital to keep supply chains functional, including deliveries of humanitarian aid and equipment. Stemming from this Actions have been called for to: a) clarify or amend travel policies to exempt air cargo; b) exempt specific crews from quarantine requirements; and c) grant temporary traffic rights to ensure efficient cargo operations in support of the global supply chain.

I want to draw your attention to the table in p.4 with the Issues likely to be encountered on the recovery path.

In presenting “Foreseeable Challenges per Scenario” they have allocated special section for air cargo

All what they put in this Working document boils down to the content of section “IV. Key concepts for the preparation and implementation of recovery measures” with the foreseen Recovery mechanisms and Additional consideration on the emergence of innovation as a response to the COVID‐19 crisis.

What ICAO is asking the industry? They admit that even with the earlier contributions received, they see a need for the industry to review the document and give suggestions on its content. How do we see the recovery path? In what way air cargo is different from the rest of the industry? Are their assumptions in the table correct?

I am inviting you to send your thoughts to [email protected] and [email protected].

It’s time for innovative solutions.

Gerry’s dnata Expands Offering; Launches Line Maintenance Services in Pakistan

Karachi, Pakistan, 13 January 2022 – Gerry’s dnata, Pakistan’s leading ground services provider, has expanded its offering. The company obtained Maintenance Organization Approval from the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority to provide aircraft line maintenance services to airline customers, and now offers a one-stop-shop of ground handling, cargo and technical services at the airports of Karachi (KHI), Lahore (LHE) and Islamabad (ISB). 

Gerry’s dnata’s team of professionals can provide full line maintenance support and are trained on customers’ company procedures, providing a seamless service to both passenger and cargo airlines.

The launch customer is flydubai, which Gerry’s dnata already serves at four airports in Pakistan providing a range of ramp and passenger handling services to the airline and its customers.

Syed Haris Raza, Vice President of Gerry’s dnata, said: “As Pakistan’s leading ground handler, we constantly enhance our offering to best meet the needs of our customers. We are confident that our airline partners will welcome the expansion of our portfolio and take advantage of getting quality and safe ground handling and technical services from a single provider. Our team of highly trained, seasoned professionals will deliver world-class quality and safety for our valued customers.”

Mick Hills, Senior Vice President of Engineering and Maintenance at flydubai, said: “We are looking forward to expanding our relationship with Gerry’s dnata to include line maintenance services in Pakistan. Having a single, local provider to oversee our line maintenance, as well as ground handling, will add more efficiencies to our fleet management and ensure a quicker turnaround of our aircraft.”

Gerry’s dnata have the capability to handle the following aircraft types for scheduled, unscheduled and AOG services:

  • Airbus A319/A320/A321 NEO (CFM LEAP-1A)
  • Airbus A318/319/320/321 (CFM56)
  • Airbus A319/320/321 (IAE V2500)
  • Airbus A330 (RR RB 211 Trent 700)
  • Airbus A330 (GE CF6)
  • Boeing B737-600/700/800/900 (CFM56)

Over the past year, Gerry’s dnata has continued to enhance its operations and services to deliver the highest level of quality and safety and help airline customers safely transport passengers and precious cargo to and from Pakistan. It made significant investments in infrastructure, technology and equipment, including the opening of a new, state-of- the-art cargo facility in Lahore which doubled the company’s cargo handling capacity at the airport.

Gerry’s dnata’s quality of service helped it win or retain over 20 contracts with key accounts across its network. The company also achieved prestigious industry certifications, including GDP and IATA’s ISAGO accreditation, which validate its capabilities and place the business in a market leading position.

Gerry’s dnata serves more than 20 airline customers at seven Pakistani airports. The company’s team consists of over 2,500 dedicated aviation professionals who assist more than seven million passengers and handle 150,000 tons of cargo annually.

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Contact
Gabor Vasarhelyi
Public Relations, dnata
[email protected]