A new network of air routes between Asia and Europe is tipped to save airlines at least $55 million annually as a result of shortened flying times and the elimination of congestion-related ground delays.
IATA made the changes public on 28 November, when the air route network for routes linking Australia and Asia with the Middle East and Europe was formally overhauled. The so-called Europe, Middle East, Asia Route Structure South of the Himalayas (EMARSSH) project was more than two years in the making. IATA describes the resulting changes as "the largest-ever route overhaul in civil aviation".
"Passengers can expect flight times to be shortened by up to 30min, and an estimated 103,000min of ground delays should be eliminated for departures to Europe from Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok," says IATA. "For airlines, the benefits of more efficient routes in fuel savings alone will be reduced costs by a conservative estimate of $55 million per year."
IATA adds that the process of reforming the often-congested "kangaroo routes" between Australia and Europe began after a meeting in Singapore in February 2000, when it was tasked by member airlines with reviewing air traffic flows "with a goal to improving safety, reducing costs, and increasing both efficiency and environmental friendliness".
ICAO was then approached and eventually more than 20 states, airlines and military agencies were involved, as was air navigation chart-maker Jeppesen.
IATA adds that traditionally, flights departing from Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore suffered major delays every evening, "as about 50 aircraft cram on to the Bay of Bengal routes".
One-hour ground delays were common, it says, and many aircraft that elected to depart and fly at lower-than-optimal altitudes were "stuck for three to four hours at these low altitudes", increasing operating costs.
NICHOLAS IONIDES SINGAPORE
Source: Airline Business
