September-October_2021 - 8

INDUSTRY UPDATE
TAA Hires Michael Musca as Director of
Properties and Concessions
Michael Musca joined the Tucson Airport Authority
(TAA) as its new director of properties and concessions.
With three decades of experience
across a wide diversity of airports,
he brings a wealth of knowledge
and airport understanding to the
TAA.
As director of properties
and concessions, Musca will be
responsible for planning, managing,
and coordinating many facets of
the Business and Commercial
Development Division in property
and lease management, concessions and ground transportation
for the TAA, Tucson International Airport (TUS) and Ryan
Airfield (RYN). This position directs and oversees all activities
associated with TAA's business relationship with the terminal
tenants, airlines, and both TUS and RYN commercial/
industrial tenants and may assist with regional economic
development activities.
www.AviationPros.com/21236336
July Passenger Traffic Boost Well Below
Pre-COVID Levels
A c c o r d i ng to th e
International Air Transport
Association (IATA), both
international and domestic
t ravel demand
showed
significant momentum in
July compared to June,
but demand remained far
below pre-pandemic levels.
Extensive government-imposed travel restrictions
continue to delay recovery in international markets.
Because comparisons between 2021 and 2020 monthly
results are distorted by the extraordinary impact of COVID19,
unless otherwise noted all comparisons are to July 2019,
which followed a normal demand pattern.
Total demand for air travel in July, measured in revenue
passenger kilometers or RPKs, was down 53.1 percent
compared to July 2019. This is a significant improvement from
June when demand was 60 percent below June 2019 levels.
International passenger demand in July was 73.6 percent
below July 2019, bettering the 80.9 percent decline recorded
in June versus two years ago.
Total domestic demand was down 15.6 percent versus precrisis
levels (July 2019), compared to the 22.1 percent decline
recorded in June over June 2019. Russia posted the best result
for another month, with RPKs up 28.9 percent vs. July 2019.
www.AviationPros.com/21236704
Flight Path Museum LAX Welcomes Airport
Veteran to Team
Barbara Yamamoto, longtime airport
communications professional, has
joined the Flight Path Museum
LAX Advisory Board following
a unanimous invitation by the
museum's board of directors.
Yamamoto is vice president
of business development for PSM
Squared Inc., a woman-owned business
specializing in creating excellent guest
experiences at airports during times of disruption,
construction and change. She previously served for
20 years as a senior community relations and guest
experience executive with Los Angeles World Airports
(LAWA), the city agency that operates Los Angeles
International Airport. Yamamoto retired from LAWA
in September 2020 after 33 years of service with the city
of Los Angeles.
www.AviationPros.com/21234515
Failing to Perform Routine
FOD Checks Can Cause Airports Over $10M
in Damages Per Year
A recent study conducted by Assaia International
AG showed that an airport with 400,000 aircraft
movements per year has on average 40 FOD
incidents per year with an associated cost of
$10.4 million.
The purpose of the study was to detect the
adherence to standard operating procedures related
to the required post departure FOD checks within
the OSZ (Operational Safety Zone). The study was
performed at a medium-sized European airport with
19 contact stands and remote handling facilities
serving up to 3 million passengers per year. The
ApronAI system, which detects turnaround operations
and safety events in real time, was deployed to
provide the airport with accurate data points.
www.AviationPros.com/21237029
Embraer E190-E2 Makes First Commercial Flight
into London City Airport
Sept. 2 saw an important debut for London City Airport.
At 5:45 p.m., an Embraer E190-E2 made its first
commercial flight into the iconic airport in the center
of the British political and financial capital. Registered
HB-AZG, the Helvetic Airways aircraft flew from Zurich
8 \ AIRPORTBUSINESS / SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021
http://www.AviationPros.com/21234515 http://www.AviationPros.com/21236336 http://www.AviationPros.com/21237029 http://www.AviationPros.com/21236704
September-October_2021

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