TUZLA - The world's longest wind-powered cargo ship was launched in Turkey, offering a promising way to slash carbon emissions from merchandise trade.
The 136-metre Neoliner Origin was floated at the Turkish port of Tuzla, and will now undergo six months of fitting-out.
Designed by French company Neoline and built by Turkish shipyard RMK Marine, the ship can carry 5,300 tonnes of freight over long distances thanks to its two masts and 3,000 square metres of sails.
"Thanks to the wind, and by reducing speed from 15 knots (about 30 kilometres or 18 miles an hour) to 11 knots, we can cut fuel consumption and therefore emissions by a factor of five compared with a conventional ship," Jean Zanuttini, president of Nantes-based Neoline, told AFP.
With about 90 percent of world trade going by sea, the maritime transport sector is responsible for about three percent of greenhouse gas emissions, according to the International Maritime Organization.
The ship will leave Turkey during the summer of 2025 for the French Atlantic port of Saint-Nazaire, then will begin its first rotation toward North America, serving the French island of Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, the US port of Baltimore and Halifax in Canada.
The project received support from France's public investment bank (BPI) and the French shipping company CMA-CGM. Zanuttini said the shipyard would soon begin work on a second similar ship. World's longest cargo sail ship launched in Turkey
WASHINGTON - US aviation giant Boeing announced that it has implemented over a dozen new quality control checks as it looks to rebuild trust following several recent high-profile incidents.
The company has been under pressure from US regulators following several safety scares, including a mid-flight Alaska Airlines panel blowout that required an emergency landing in January 2024.
Boeing's new "Safety & Quality Plan" includes enhanced training for quality control inspectors and mechanics, and a new random quality audit when aircraft parts are removed and returned, it said in a statement posted on its website.
The company said it has also worked to "significantly" reduce defects in the 737 fuselage assembly at Spirit AeroSystems, which manufactured the faulty panel, "by increasing inspection points at build locations and implementing customer quality approval process."
Boeing's plan follows an audit by the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) early last year, which gave the company 90 days to devise a plan to significantly upgrade its quality control processes.
"We're actively monitoring the results and keeping a close eye on work at key Boeing facilities," FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker wrote in a blog post.
"But this is not a one-year project," added Whitaker, who is due to step down later this month.
"What's needed is a fundamental cultural shift at Boeing that's oriented around safety and quality above profits," he said. "That will require sustained effort and commitment from Boeing, and unwavering scrutiny on our part."
2024 was a tough year for Boeing, which also had to contend with a seven-week strike by some 33,000 workers that paralysed production at two crucial plants and slowed down the production of its aircraft.In October, Boeing unveiled plans to reduce its global workforce by 10 percent, and shortly afterwards posted its biggest quarterly net loss in four years. Boeing adds new manufacturing quality control checks
New Delhi, (IANS) Tata group-owned Air India becomes the first airline to offer inflight Wi-Fi Internet connectivity services on domestic flights, according to the airline's press release on Wednesday.
According to Air India, passengers can avail of Wi-Fi Internet connectivity service on domestic routes in Airbus A350, Boeing 787-9 and select Airbus A321neo aircraft.
"This makes Air India the first to offer in-flight Wi-Fi Internet connectivity on flights within India, enabling travellers – flying for leisure or business – to stay connected to the Internet during their flights, and to enjoy browsing, accessing social media, catching up on work, or texting friends and family," the airline said.
Rajesh Dogra, Chief Customer Experience Officer, Air India, “Connectivity is now an integral part of modern travel. For some, it is about the convenience and comfort of real-time sharing, while for others, it is about greater productivity and efficiency."
"Whatever be one’s purpose, we are confident that our guests will appreciate having the option of connecting to the web and enjoy the new Air India experience on board these aircraft,” he added.
Air India said passengers can use Wi-Fi via laptops, tablets, and smartphones with iOS or Android operating systems, the in-flight Wi-Fi will also allow guests to connect multiple devices simultaneously when above 10,000 feet.
The deployment of Wi-Fi on domestic routes follows an ongoing pilot programme on international services operated by the Airbus A350, select Airbus A321 neo and Boeing B787-9 aircraft serving international destinations; including New York, London, Paris and Singapore.
An Englishman who was told he “wasn’t clever enough” to become a pilot has built an incredible $25,000 flight simulator in his home using spare parts—and now he and his daughter can ‘fly’ every day.
Craig Cullingworth spent two years building his accurate model of a Boeing 737-800NG cockpit with mostly second-hand parts he sourced online.
Now, using a computer program, he takes to the skies with his “obsessed” daughter, Sophie, from the comfort of their home in Leeds, West Yorkshire.
The 40-year-old’s plan to create the replica came after his wife gifted him a simulator experience at a local flight center as a Christmas present.
He then bought a cockpit shell – with all the dials and levers found on the real twin-engine aircraft, and painstakingly turned it into a fully working model (seen in the video below).
He took his maiden voyage about three months ago, saying, “I always wanted to be a pilot, but at school I was told I wasn’t clever enough.”
“My wife got me a Boeing 737 experience because she knew how much I wanted to do it. It was the best experience of my life—and on my way home, I was searching how to build one.
“I found bits and bobs all over the country and started building it in my spare room after work, in a bid that one day I could get it flying.SWNS
“About three months ago, we did our first flight which I shared a video of on social media and gained lots of positive feedback.”
“My eight-year-old daughter is now obsessed. She takes it in very quickly.”
Craig said his flight simulator teacher, who is also a first officer at Ryanair, thought he was a “natural” after their first lesson together in 2021. And Craig later earned his wings on the lifelike computer model, which professional pilots from carriers like Virgin and Jet2 often use to improve their skills.
Now he likes to fly on his simulator through the skies over Britain so he can have fun navigating tricky regional runways. He’ll take off from Leeds-Bradford and land at Manchester, then go over to the East Midlands airport, and down to Heathrow, needing about three hours to fly to a local airport, land, and then prepare for taking off again to go to the next airport.
“I usually do Leeds-Bradford for the fact that it’s one of the top ten worst airports to land in, and it’s usually quite tricky. It is usually a two-man crew effort, and you share the duties between each other.”
The cost of buying a new Boeing 737 flight simulator is around $70,000 (£55,000), but Craig spent less than half that on his model by using second-hand parts.
Flight simulator experiences cost well over $100 for 30 to 90 minutes of time ‘in the air’, so Craig is thinking about creating a business that offers the unique experience to more aspiring pilots.
“I’ve met people all over the country who have built their own flight sims but you tend to find they are retired pilots, and not people my age. The experience is so hands-on that you won’t know if you’re any good at it until you actually give it a go.” (Watch them in action below…)Craig, who paints cars for a living, said he may now offer other interested flyers the chance to use his simulator—or others that he builds in the future—as part of a business venture.
“My body shop is expanding so we will have more space for me to set up two or three simulators for people to use, (especially) targeting pilots because they can do their training on these simulators.”
Toyota Motor President Koji Sato showcased new electric vehicle concepts at the Japan Mobility Show, but the country is well behind its rivals in the fast-growing market
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TOKYO - Tokyo's rebranded auto show returns this weekend just as China looks set to overtake Japan as the world's biggest car exporter after Toyota, Nissan and others got stuck in the electric vehicle slow lane.
Since the last edition in 2019, the EV market in Japan has been sluggish and the country's automakers have been late to tap a growing appetite elsewhere.
Just 1.7 percent of cars sold in Japan were electric in 2022, compared with around 15 percent in western Europe, 5.3 percent in the United States and nearly one in five in China.
Japanese firms fared badly in a recent Greenpeace ranking on phasing out internal combustion engines, with Suzuki last and Toyota -- the world's biggest carmaker by revenue -- third from bottom.
Fewer than one in 400 Toyotas sold are EVs, the environmental group said.
Japanese manufacturers have long bet instead on hybrids that combine battery power and internal combustion engines, an area they pioneered with the likes of the Toyota Prius.
Foreign EVs "feel like products from the previous generation", Chinese car industry employee Gao Yulu, 32, told AFP at a recent auto show in Beijing.
"For Japanese brands, there are very few products to begin with. And their product strength isn't strong in terms of price and performance," she said.
For Mitsubishi Motors, the debacle in China is such that this week it announced it was halting production there.
Like in Europe and North America, Chinese EV makers are now even trying to gain a foothold in Toyota and Nissan's backyard.
- Teaming up with 'Godzilla' -
One of the only three foreign auto firms exhibiting in Tokyo will be BYD, which is vying with Elon Musk's Tesla to become the world's top-selling EV maker.
Although export figures are skewed by Japanese companies having major factories abroad, becoming number-two to China this year, as expected, will still hurt for an industry that itself was once the disruptor, experts said.
"It's kind of reminiscent of what happened to Japan in the 1980s, when they started exporting a lot of automotives," said Christopher Richter, an auto analyst at CLSA.
Japanese automakers have vowed to up their game, with Toyota aiming to sell 1.5 million EVs annually by 2026 and 3.5 million by 2030. It has invested heavily in battery technology.
On show in Tokyo will be a number of new Japanese EVs, although they will mostly be concepts such as a car and motorbike from Honda made of recyclable acrylic resin.
The show has also been reborn as the Japan Mobility Show to expand its scope beyond cars to include areas such as robots, software and batteries.
This has more than doubled the number of exhibitors in the show, which opens to the public on Saturday, to 475 including an armada of start-ups.
The trade show will also feature a special "Emergency and Mobility" zone devoted to transport solutions after natural disasters, with displays of robots, drones and self-propelling stretchers.
To hammer home the point, organisers have teamed up with the new "Godzilla" movie.
"In Japan, we have... many natural disasters in Japan, and people's lives and towns have been destroyed," said Jun Nagata from the organising committee.
"Because of global warming this year, it's like Godzilla coming to cities," he said.
New Delhi, (IANS): The domestic automotive industry has crossed Rs 20 lakh crore mark in FY24 and has the potential to be worth $1.6 trillion (about Rs 134 lakh crore) by 2047, driven by electric vehicles (EVs), according to industry leaders.
The automotive industry in the country is poised to be one of the key growth engines in towards achieving a $32-trillion GDP by 2047, according to Pawan Goenka, Chairman of IN-SPACe at the Department of Space.
Addressing the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association (ACMA) event in the national capital, he said that the automotive industry has the potential to contribute $1.6 trillion by 2047.
The auto sector also contributes significantly to the direct and indirect employment generation in the country, Goenka further said, adding that the auto industry will contribute more and more to the GDP of the country from the current level of around 6.8 per cent. Over the last two decades or so, the industry has grown by 17 per cent CAGR.
The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) President Vinod Aggarwal said that the domestic auto industry has identified 50 critical components for local production in order to reduce import dependence.
As most of these items are electrical or electronics, there is a need to develop capabilities and capacities in India for such high tech items, he added.
Aggarwal told the gathering that the Indian automotive industry has crossed a landmark figure of Rs 20 lakh crore in FY24 and is contributing almost 14-15 per cent of the total GST collected in the country.
SIAM, along with ACMA, has voluntarily set targets for increasing localisation. The industry bodies are committed to reduce import content by 60 per cent to 20 per cent by 2025 from the base 2019-20 levels, thereby targeting the reduced reports to the tune of Rs 20,000 to Rs 25,000 crore in five years.
The country has become the third largest passenger vehicle market, the largest two and three wheeler market and third largest commercial vehicle market.As the adoption of EVs increase in the country, the cost of EVs will almost match petrol and diesel vehicles within the next two years, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, earlier said at the event. EVs can drive Indian automotive industry reach Rs 134 lakh crore by 2047 | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com
FILE PHOTO: A general view of the interiors of the Air India Airbus A350 aeroplane, displayed at Wings India 2024 aviation event at Begumpet airport, Hyderabad, India, January 18, 2024. REUTERS/Almaas Masood/File Photo
Air India, owned by the Tata Group, said on Tuesday that it would spend $400 million to refurbish the interiors of 67 planes, or more than half its fleet, as part of a multi-million dollar transformation of the former state-run carrier.
Since taking control of the carrier in 2022, Tata has spent millions of dollars on ordering hundreds of new jets and changing the carrier’s logo, branding and plane livery, among other upgrades to the carrier’s operations.
Now it is refitting the interiors of older planes — 27 narrowbody Airbus A320neo and 40 widebody Boeing 787s and 777s — in partnership with companies including Astronics, Thales and RTX’s Collins Aerospace, it said.
FILE PHOTO: Branding for Air India is seen on an Airbus A350-900 at the Farnborough International Airshow, in Farnborough, Britain, July 24, 2024. REUTERS/Toby Melville/File Photo
Air India did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request to clarify these companies’ involvement in the program and for a breakdown of its $400-million outlay.
The first narrowbody was sent for an upgrade on Monday and Air India plans to upgrade three and four planes per month, it said.
Its total fleet currently stands at 128 aircraft, per its website. The Air India group has ordered 470 jets from Airbus and Boeing.The group includes low-cost carriers Air India Express and Air Asia India. From November, Air India will also operate planes of Vistara, a joint venture between Singapore Airlines and Tata Group. Air India to spend $400 million to revamp interiors of over half its fleet
When I get out of the car, of course I’m thinking as well, ‘is this something that we should do, travel the world, wasting resources?‘
In the pursuit of speed and sustainability, F1 teams committed in 2019 to achieving a net zero emissions goal by 2030.
As part of this goal, every team has expressed their intention to use 100% renewable fuel by 2026. F1 has also just announced it will mandate hybrid engines with a 50-50 split between electric and combustion power.
However, it is crucial to consider whether these promises to go greener are achievable or if this commitment is just an attempt to greenwash the sport.
Formula One is trying to make the sport more environmentally responsible.
Just how big is F1’s environmental footprint?
According to a report from F1, the sport releases around 256,000 tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere every season.
While cars are often the focus, in reality, the behind-the-scenes activities have a larger environmental impact, as a Grand Prix event involves much more than just the cars on the track.
This includes everything from the transportation of teams and equipment to various international venues, to the energy used in setting up and operating the event and waste management.
A Grand Prix event features ten teams, each operating two cars, which results in a total of 20 cars in each race.
The foremost priorities of hybrid engines in Formula One are efficiency and environmental sustainability.
They integrate an internal combustion engine, batteries and an energy recovery system.
Compared to conventional internal combustion engines, the inclusion of batteries allows F1 cars to deliver rapid power more efficiently. The instantaneous torque provided by electric power significantly enhances acceleration out of corners, contributing to overall performance improvements.
Hybrid engines also reduce fuel consumption compared to traditional engines.
The hybrid system includes the Motor Generator Unit-Kinetic (MGU-K) and the Motor Generator Unit-Heat (MGU-H). The MGU-K converts kinetic energy from braking into electrical energy and stored in the battery, which boosts acceleration and speed. The MGU-H uses heat energy from exhaust gases to increase engine power.
This configuration not only conserves fuel but also maximises energy use, thereby reducing carbon emissions and enhancing environmental sustainability.
Will these changes reduce the sport’s environmental impact?
To reduce the environmental impact of F1 cars, fuel plays a major role. F1 started with 10% sustainable fuel (“E10”) – a blend of 10% renewable ethanol and 90% fossil fuel.
From 2026, they are determined to shift from 10% to 100% renewable fuel, which is synthesised by municipal waste or non-food biomass.
However, renewable fuels still produce carbon emissions – burning renewable fuel does release carbon dioxide but the emissions are offset by the carbon dioxide absorbed from the atmosphere during the fuel’s production, rendering it carbon neutral overall.
While the hybrid system will remain in place in 2026, given the complexities and cap on engine-specific costs, modern F1 cars will scrap the MGU-H and solely rely on the MGU-K.
Moreover, F1 is committed to increasing the energy efficiency of MGU-K to harvest more braking energy. Consequently, it aims to increase power output of MGU-K from 120kW to 350kW by 2026, nearly tripling it.
As for its broader carbon footprint, F1 has also pledged to incorporate re-purposing and recycling options for race weekend materials, batteries, and MGU-K. This will help minimise waste and the sport’s carbon footprint.
Because the carbon footprint of F1 cars is relatively small, the sport should focus its efforts on reducing emissions in transportation, logistics and fan activities.
Likewise, hosting Grand Prix races in various countries across different continents requires extensive logistical arrangements and travel. For instance, the F1 racing series in 2023 visited 20 countries across five continents, resulting in significant carbon emissions.
Consequently, F1 should consider hosting races within a single country or at least within a single continent.
Can F1 cars go fully electric?
For the sustainability of the sport, a transition to 100% electric cars is likely in the future. This transition can benefit from the experiences gained with Formula E, which employs fully electric vehicles.
However, several factors must be considered before fully electrifying F1 cars, including regulation changes, battery weight, battery safety and charging infrastructure.
Returns after four year hiatus with three weekly flights
China’s Chongqing Airlines will resume its services to Colombo from 24 June with three weekly flights after a four year hiatus.
The three services are on Monday, Wednesday and Friday with a stopover in Malè.
As Chongqing is the largest commercial and industrial centre in Southwest China, more cultural, investment and tourism exchanges are expected to be brought to Sri Lanka via the scheduled three weekly services between Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport and Bandaranaike International Airport.
China remains the fifth top source market for Sri Lanka with 52,498 tourists’ year-to-date.
The airline last operated services to Colombo in 2020. In December 2018, Chongqing Airlines commenced direct flights to take advantage of non-stop scheduled three weekly services between Chongqing and Colombo.
The flights were operated by modern Airbus A320 neo with three-class cabin configuration – Business Class, Premium Economy and Economy Class.
New Delhi, May 22 (IANS): Leading SUV manufacturer Mahindra & Mahindra on Wednesday launched a new variant for the XUV700 -- AX5 Select (AX5 S), starting at Rs 16.89 lakh (ex-showroom).
The new AX5 Select variant comes with various features, including a Skyroof, Dual 26.03cm HD Superscreen, Push-Button Start/Stop, and a roomy 7-seater configuration.
"These features, typically associated with higher-end models, make the AX5 Select an excellent choice for customers looking for luxury at a more affordable price point," the company said.
In addition, the new car comes with in-built navigation with native maps, personalised greeting and safety alerts, Amazon Alexa built-in, wireless Android Auto, six speakers with sound staging, and speed-sensitive door locks, among others.
"The AX5 Select variant represents an unparalleled blend of luxury, performance, and affordability, making it the perfect choice for the next generation of achievers," the company stated.
Mahindra continues to innovate with fresh offerings, consistently introducing multiple variants to meet the growing needs of customers.
Among the recent launches, it includes the 7-seater in the MX variant and the limited Blaze edition on the AX7L trim featuring a Blaze Red colour, dual-tone black exterior elements, and an all-black interior with red accents, delivering a bold and unique look.According to the company, the XUV700 has been very well received in Mahindra’s international markets such as South Africa, Australia, Nepal and New Zealand since its launch in 2022, making it a truly global SUV. Mahindra launches new variant for 'XUV700' starting at Rs 16.89 lakh | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com
Chicago: America was affected by snow storm. Many flights in the Midwest and South had to be canceled while many were delayed. Due to which thousands of passengers were stranded at the airport itself. According to information, flight tracking website statistics revealed that more than 2,400 flights have been delayed so far while more than 2,000 flights have been canceled due to the storm. About 40 percent of the 36 percent of flights departing Chicago's O'Hare International Airport were canceled, and about 60 percent of the flights departing Chicago Midway International Airport were canceled. Meanwhile, other affected airports include Denver International and Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport. More than 200 United and Alaska Airlines flights were canceled each day this week due to the Federal Aviation Authority's forced grounding. The FAA and Boeing are still trying to agree on an inspection protocol that would allow those flights to resume flying.અમેરિકામાં બરફના તોફાનનો કેર: ૨૦૦૦ ફલાઇટ રદ, ૨૪૦૦થી વધુ મોડી પડી
You probably know the feeling: you’re sitting on a plane, happily cruising through the sky, when suddenly the seat-belt light comes on and things get a little bumpy.
Most of the time, turbulence leads to nothing worse than momentary jitters or perhaps a spilled cup of coffee. In rare cases, passengers or flight attendants might end up with some injuries.
What’s going on here? Why are flights usually so stable, but sometimes get so unsteady?
As a meteorologist and atmospheric scientist who studies air turbulence, let me explain.
What is air turbulence?
Air turbulence is when the air starts to flow in a chaotic or random way.
At high altitudes the wind usually moves in a smooth, horizontal current called “laminar flow”. This provides ideal conditions for steady flight.
In ‘laminar flow’, air moves smoothly in one direction. When turbulence begins, it goes every which way. Shutterstock
Turbulence occurs when something disrupts this smooth flow, and the air starts to move up and down as well as horizontally. When this happens, conditions can change from moment to moment and place to place.
You can think of normal flying conditions as the glassy surface of the ocean on a still day. But when a wind comes up, things get choppy, or waves form and break – that’s turbulence.
What causes air turbulence?
The kind of turbulence that affects commercial passenger flights has three main causes.
The first is thunderstorms. Inside a thunderstorm, there is strong up-and-down air movement, which makes a lot of turbulence that can spread out to the surrounding region. Thunderstorms can also create “atmospheric waves”, which travel through the surrounding air and eventually break, causing turbulence.
Fortunately, pilots can usually see thunderstorms ahead (either with the naked eye or on radar) and will make efforts to go around them.
The other common causes of turbulence create what’s typically called “clear-air turbulence”. It comes out of air that looks perfectly clear, with no clouds, so it’s harder to dodge.
Jet streams and mountains are common causes of clear-air turbulence. Shutterstock
The second cause of turbulence is jet streams. These are high-speed winds in the upper atmosphere, at the kind of altitudes where passenger jets fly.
While air inside the jet stream moves quite smoothly, there is often turbulence near the top and bottom of the stream. That’s because there is a big difference in air speed (called “wind shear”) between the jet stream and the air outside it. High levels of wind shear create turbulence.
The third thing that makes turbulence is mountains. As air flows over a mountain range, it creates another kind of wave – called, of course, a “mountain wave” – that disrupts air flow and can create turbulence.
Can air turbulence be avoided?
Pilots do their best to avoid air turbulence – and they’re pretty good at it!
As mentioned, thunderstorms are the easiest to fly around. For clear-air turbulence, things are a little trickier.
When pilots encounter turbulence, they will change altitude to try to avoid it. They also report the turbulence to air traffic controllers, who pass the information on to other flights in the area so they can try to avoid it.
Weather forecasting centres also provide turbulence forecasts. Based on their models of what’s happening in the atmosphere, they can predict where and when clear-air turbulence is likely to occur.
Will climate change make turbulence worse?
As the globe warms and the climate changes in coming decades, we think air turbulence will also be affected.
One reason is that the jet streams which can cause turbulence are shifting and may become more intense. As Earth’s tropical climate zones spread away from the equator, the jet streams are moving with them.
This is likely to increase turbulence on at least some flight routes. Some studies also suggest the wind shear around jet streams has become more intense.
Another reason is that the most severe thunderstorms are also likely to become more intense, partly because a warmer atmosphere can hold more water vapour. This too is likely to generate more intense turbulence.
These predictions are largely based on climate models, because it is difficult to collect the data needed to identify trends in air turbulence. These data largely come from reports by aircraft, the quality and extent of which are changing over time. These measurements are quite different from the long-term, methodically gathered data usually used to detect trends in the weather and climate.
How dangerous is air turbulence?
Around the globe, air turbulence causes hundreds of injuries each year among passengers and flight attendants on commercial aircraft. But, given the hundreds of millions of people who fly each year, those are pretty good odds.
Turbulence is usually short-lived. What’s more, modern aircraft are engineered to comfortably withstand all but the most extreme air turbulence.
And among people who are injured, the great majority are those who aren’t strapped in. So if you’re concerned, the easiest way to protect yourself is to wear your seat belt.
The White House recently announced it has issued a final rule that requires airlines to promptly provide passengers with automatic cash refunds when owed. The new rule makes it easy for passengers to obtain refunds when airlines cancel or significantly change their flights, and following significantly delayed checked bags, or failures to provide extra services when purchased.
“Passengers deserve to get their money back when an airline owes them—without headaches or haggling,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “Our new rule sets a new standard to require airlines to promptly provide cash refunds to their passengers.”
The final rule creates certainty for consumers by defining the circumstances in which airlines must provide prompt refunds. Prior to this rule, airlines were permitted to set their own standards for what kind of flight changes warranted a refund, which differed from airline to airline, making it difficult for passengers to know or assert their refund rights.
Under the new rules, which will start going into effect within six months, passengers are entitled to a refund for:
Canceled or significantly changed flights:
Passengers will be entitled to a refund if their flight is canceled or significantly changed, and they do not accept alternative transportation or travel credits offered. For the first time, the rule defines “significant change.” Significant changes to a flight include departure or arrival times that are more than 3 hours domestically and 6 hours internationally; departures or arrivals from a different airport; increases in the number of connections; instances where passengers are downgraded to a lower class of service; or changes that result in less accessible or accommodating situations to a person with a disability.
Significantly delayed baggage return:
Passengers who file a mishandled baggage report will be entitled to a refund of their checked bag fee if it is not delivered within 12 hours of their domestic flight arriving at the gate, or 15-30 hours of their international flight arriving at the gate, depending on the length of the flight.
Extra services not provided:
Passengers will be entitled to a refund for the fee they paid for an extra service — such as Wi-Fi, seat selection, or inflight entertainment — if an airline fails to provide this service.
The DOT’s (U.S. Department of Transportation) final rule also makes it simple and straightforward for passengers to receive the money they are owed. Without this rule, consumers have to navigate a patchwork of cumbersome processes to request and receive a refund — searching through airline websites to figure out how make the request, filling out extra “digital paperwork,” or at times waiting for hours on the phone. In addition, passengers would receive a travel credit or voucher by default from some airlines instead of getting their money back, so they could not use their refund to rebook on another airline when their flight was changed or cancelled without navigating a cumbersome request process.
Refunds are required to be:
Automatic: Airlines must automatically issue refunds without passengers having to explicitly request them or jump through hoops.
Prompt: Airlines and ticket agents must issue refunds within seven business days of refunds becoming due for credit card purchases and 20 calendar days for other payment methods.
In Cash or original form of payment: Airlines and ticket agents must provide refunds in cash or whatever original payment method the individual used to make the purchase, such as credit card or airline miles. Airlines may not substitute vouchers, travel credits, or other forms of compensation unless the passenger affirmatively chooses to accept alternative compensation.
In the full amount: Airlines and ticket agents must provide full refunds of the ticket purchase price, minus the value of any portion of transportation already used. The refunds must include all government-imposed taxes and fees and airline-imposed fees, regardless of whether the taxes or fees are refundable to airlines.
The final rule also requires airlines to provide prompt notifications to consumers affected by a cancelled or significantly changed flight of their right to a refund of the ticket and extra service fees, as well as any related policies.
Happily, during 2023, the flight cancellation rate in the U.S. was a record low at under 1.2% — the lowest rate of flight cancellations in over 10 years despite a record amount of air travel.
However, in the event that an airline causes a significant delay or cancellation, thanks to pressure from the Biden-era DOT, all 10 major U.S. airlines now guarantee free rebooking and meals—and nine guarantee hotel accommodations. These are new commitments the airlines added to their customer service plans that DOT can legally ensure they adhere to. Find the details displayed on a new web domain that links to DOT: flightrights.gov.
Getting rid of hidden fees: A second rule will require airlines and ticket agents to tell consumers upfront what fees they charge for checked bags, a carry-on bag, for changing a reservation, or cancelling a reservation. This ensures that consumers can avoid surprise fees when they purchase tickets from airlines or ticket agents, including both brick-and-mortar travel agencies or online travel agencies.
The rule will help consumers avoid unneeded or unexpected charges that can increase quickly and add significant cost to what may, at first, look like a cheap ticket.
Airlines must inform consumers that seats are guaranteed: To help consumers avoid unneeded ‘seat selection fees’, airlines and ticket agents must tell consumers that seats are guaranteed and that they are not required to pay extra. The new rule also prohibits airlines from advertising a promotional discount off a low base fare that does not include all mandatory carrier-imposed fees. LEARN all the details from DOT, here.There are different implementation periods in these final rules ranging from six months for airlines to provide automatic refunds when owed to 12 months for airlines to provide transferable travel vouchers or credits when consumers are unable to travel for reasons related to a serious communicable disease.New Rule Requires US Airlines to Give Automatic Refunds for Canceled or Delayed Flights and Late Baggage - Good News Network
China’s automotive industry has revolutionised over the past decade, from producing basic western clones to making cars that equal the world’s best. As the manufacturing powerhouse of the world, China is also producing them in huge volumes.
However, Chinese cars are facing difficulties in finding buyers in Europe. Imported cars, many of which are Chinese electric vehicles, are piling up at European ports, with some spending up to 18 months in port car parks as manufacturers struggle to get them onto people’s driveways.
Why is this, though? Chinese electric vehicles in particular are getting positive reviews. Having driven them myself, I can attest to them matching, or even exceeding, the well-known European brands in range, quality and technology.
But entering an established market as a challenger is a complex operation. Chinese makers will have to contend with buyer wariness, a lack of brand image, trade protectionism and rapid outdatedness.
Lack of buyer faith
China’s automotive expansion programme draws parallels with the moves made by Japan in the 1960s and 70s. At that time, the product coming from Japan was commendable but lacked the finesse, design and longevity of their western counterparts. Japanese cars were thought of as tinny, underpowered and susceptible to rusting, as well as looking very generic compared to stylish European designs.
Memories of Japan’s involvement in the second world war were also fresh in (particularly American) buyer’s minds, who were slow to forgive a nation that launched the Pearl Harbour attacks. However, by constantly focusing on a reliable, relatively cheap and increasingly stylish product, Japan slowly turned this around to become the automotive powerhouse of the 1990s and 2000s.
China is viewed with suspicion by many westerners, and its carmakers are similarly hampered by their recent legacy of producing both endorsed and illegal clones of European cars. But with the lessons of the Japanese to learn from, Chinese cars are rapidly advancing to match and exceed existing alternatives.
Strategic purchases of brands like Volvo, Lotus and MG have also given China existing brands that are respected and, more importantly, have some of the best engineering knowledge in the world.
Yet, even after buying up western brands, Chinese automakers have proven unable to buy loyalty from existing customers of brands like BMW, Porsche, Ferrari and Ford. For these buyers, the history of the brand in terms of known reliability and even things like motor sport success is something that Chinese makers, like the Japanese, will have to build up over time.
It was Ford dealers who, in the 1960s, coined the phrase: “Win on Sunday, Sell on Monday”. The phrase is as an adage to attest the fact that if buyers see a car winning a race, they’ll be motivated to go out and buy one.
Existing manufacturers also have a legacy of reliability that buyers have experienced for themselves, giving a huge brand loyalty benefit. Add to this a lack of an established dealer network outside of China and you see how Chinese makers struggle against the established competition.
A challenging trade environment
China has a price advantage compared to Europe or the US. Economies of scale, excellent shipping links and cheap labour mean that Chinese cars are cheaper both to make and buy.
However, in many countries they are subject to high import tariffs. The EU currently imposes a 10% import tariff on each car brought in. And in the US, car imports from China are subject to a 27.5% tariff.
These tariffs may well rise further. The EU is conducting an investigation into whether its tariff is too low. If it concludes this later this year, higher duties will be applied retrospectively to imported cars.
Cars, and specifically electric vehicles, are also in a phase of their development where they see rapid changes and updates. Traditionally, vehicle models would see a market life of between four and seven years, perhaps with small updates in trim, colour palette or feature availability.
But Tesla has turned this on its head. The Tesla Model S, for example, has seen almost continuous product updates that make it barely recognisable in terms of hardware from a car released in 2012. Chinese automakers have taken note. They are bringing out new models around 30% faster than in most other nations.
Tesla is supporting owners of older cars with upgrades, at extra expense, to bring them in line with the latest hardware. Without guaranteed software support like this, the rate at which Chinese automakers are bringing out new models could make buyers wary that the product they have bought will soon become outdated compared to buying a car on a more traditional update cycle.
How to succeed
Many of these factors can be fixed. They also chime more with private buyers than business buyers, who are more concerned with cost. Chinese makers would be well-advised to push harder into this market.
In the UK, the fleet market dwarfs the private market, and the situation is similar in Europe. Selling en masse to fleets and rental companies gets more cars on the road and allows more data about reliability to feed into the market.
The road to succeeding in a new market such as the EU will be slow and bumpy. But it’s clear that China is laser focused on its global push. It remains to be seen whether this lack of buyers can be turned around.
BERLIN - Volkswagen said Wednesday it would cut its workforce over the coming years as the German auto giant seeks to boost its profitability and reboot a faltering shift to electric cars.
"Over the coming years, we will need to reduce our workforce in a socially responsible way," the group's human resources chief Gunnar Kilian said.
The focus would be on "partial retirement and early retirement schemes to the maximum extent possible," he added, in a statement issued after a meeting with employees in Wolfsburg, where the firm is headquartered.
He did not indicate how many roles would be affected at the 10-brand group, whose marques include Audi, Skoda and Seat.
But he said the aim was to reduce staff costs in areas outside production by about 20 percent.
He stressed this did not mean having 20 percent fewer people, and most savings would "come from process improvements and structural adjustments".
Volkswagen has some 675,800 employees worldwide.
The group announced in June a 10-billion-euro ($10.8 billion) savings programme to help increase profitability -- its profit margins are currently languishing behind its long-term target of between nine and 11 percent.
The group is pouring tens of billions of euros into its pivot to electric vehicles, but the sector has been blighted by a weak global economy and low levels of demand.
In addition, it is facing a serious challenge from homegrown rivals in China, one of its most important markets.
Like other manufacturers in Europe's biggest economy, it is also battling rising costs due to high inflation and elevated energy prices since the outbreak of the Ukraine war.
On Wednesday, Thomas Schaefer, head of the Volkswagen brand, outlined measures that had already been decided upon to reduce costs.
These range from dropping a plan to build a new research and development centre, to speeding up product development. In September, VW said it was cutting 269 temporary jobs at its flagship electric car plant in Zwickau. Volkswagen to reduce workforce as it chases profits
We hop in the car to get groceries or drop kids at school. But while the car is convenient, these short trips add up in terms of emissions, pollution and petrol cost.
Close to half (44%) of all Australian commuter trips are by car – and under 10km. Of Perth’s 4.2 million daily car trips, 2.8 are for distances of less than 2km.
This is common in wealthier countries. In the United States, a staggering 60% of all car trips cover less than 10km.
So what’s the best solution? You might think switching to an electric vehicle is the natural step. In fact, for short trips, an electric bike or moped might be better for you – and for the planet. That’s because these forms of transport – collectively known as electric micromobility – are cheaper to buy and run.
But it’s more than that – they are actually displacing four times as much demand for oil as all the world’s electric cars at present, due to their staggering uptake in China and other nations where mopeds are a common form of transport.
Electric mopeds have surged in popularity – especially in China. Shutterstock
How can that be?
On the world’s roads last year, there were over 20 million electric vehicles and 1.3 million commercial EVs such as buses, delivery vans and trucks.
But these numbers of four or more wheel vehicles are wholly eclipsed by two- and three-wheelers. There were over 280 million electric mopeds, scooters, motorcycles and three-wheelers on the road last year. Their sheer popularity is already cutting demand for oil by a million barrels of oil a day – about 1% of the world’s total oil demand, according to estimates by Bloomberg New Energy Finance.
What about electric vehicles, you ask? After all, EVs have been heralded as a silver bullet for car emissions and air pollution in cities, as their tailpipe emissions are zero. If charged with renewable power, they get even greener.
But to see them as an inarguable good is an error. They are cleaner cars, but they are still cars, taking up space on the roads and requiring a lot of electricity to power them. Their batteries make them heavier than a traditional car, and draw heavily on the extraction of rare earth elements. While EVs are overall much greener than internal combustion engine cars, battery manufacture can undermine some of the gains.
On the plus side, petrol cars cost about A$0.14 per kilometre in fuel, or about $1,820 in fuel annually for the average car doing 12,000km. Maintenance averages at $910 a year, bringing the total to $2,730 for a petrol car.
By contrast, charging an EV would cost around $480 for that distance. Maintenance of $240 takes annual running costs to $720. So EVs are much cheaper to run. But they are expensive to buy.
What advantages do electric mopeds and bikes have?
The electric transport revolution is a great chance to rethink how we move through our cities – and whether we even need a car at all.
Cars, after all, often have only one occupant. You’re expending a lot of energy to transport yourself.
By contrast, electric mopeds and bikes use a lot less energy to transport one or two people. They’re also a lot cheaper to buy and run than electric cars.
If you commute on an e-bike 20km a day, five days a week, your charging cost would be about $20 – annually.
In Australia, electric bikes are very rapidly going from a hobbyist pursuit to a serious mode of urban transport. Over 100,000 e-bikes were sold here last year.
Of course, you’re unlikely to use electric mopeds or bikes to drive from Sydney to Melbourne. Their real value is in short-hop trips – the school run, the milk and bread run or even the commute – where they take roughly the same time or shorter than a car. E-bikes and electric mopeds are cutting oil demand more than electric vehicles. Shutterstock
Smaller electric options like scooters and skateboards also offer a way to overcome the last kilometre problem which plagues public transport systems. This, in short, is the inconvenient distance between your home and the station or bus stop. Being able to cover this distance fast can be a game-changer for public transport.
If taken up, electric micromobility can cut urban emissions. A study of e-scooter riders in the United Kingdom found these trips produced up to 45% less carbon dioxide than alternatives.
US researchers estimate that if e-bike trips expanded to 11% of all vehicle trips, transport emissions would fall by about 7%.
As petrol prices increase and battery prices fall, the cheaper running costs of electric vehicles and even cheaper running costs of electric mopeds, bikes and scooters will keep eating away at the demand for oil.
Global oil demand is now projected to peak in 2028 at 105.7 million barrels per day – and then begin to fall, according to the International Energy Agency.
Electric vehicles will play a role in cutting oil demand. But it may well be that electric micromobility cuts demand faster, given how fast these cheaper, more plentiful options are being taken up.
What does this mean for me?
If you’re looking to go electric, it’s worth taking a close look at your transport needs. If you live in an outer suburb or regional towns, you may find the longer range and larger capacity of an electric car is better suited.
But for many people, it’s likely you’ll have a range of options. You might have one electric vehicle for longer trips, or group trips, as well as an e-bike for the school run or groceries.
Tata Motors on Wednesday (6 April) showcased its electric SUV concept – Curvv that will feature a more dynamic design and offer an extended range. The electric motor propelling Tata Curvv will have a higher power rating as well, in comparison to Nexon EV.
As per speculations, Curvv will have a larger 40 kWh battery option (long-range version), along with a few additional features, while the existing 30.2 kWh battery option will remain on sale.
Tata Curvv will get two IC engine options as well, expected to be a 1.5-litre diesel engine and a 1.5-litre petrol engine. The petrol mill will be a four-cylinder version of the brand’s three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine, which is available on Nexon and Altroz. This new powerplant is expected to generate around 160 PS of peak power. The diesel engine of Curvv will likely be an updated version of the carmaker’s existing 1.5L oil-burner, which also does duty on Altroz and Nexon. Tata Motors will offer both manual and automatic gearbox options here. However, it should be noted that the EV version will go on sale first, and the IC engine version will launch later.
Conceptualised to offer practicality and elegance, all whilst exuding dynamism and unmatched road presence, the Curvv is expected to storm the market within the next two years. This concept will introduce India to a unique, edgy and sporty coupe body style, which in the past has only been prevalent in the high end luxury segment.
The concept Curvv in its production ready avatar will first enter the market as an extension of the company’s ever evolving electric vehicle (EV) portfolio, which will subsequently be followed by its Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) counterpart.
“Our ongoing business turnaround is history in the making. From record sales to upping our market share game, the last fiscal has been nothing but magical for us. We not only emerged as the No 1 SUV player with an array of products in our portfolio, we also continued to supercharge our growth in the EV space with our highest ever annual EV sales - going up by 353 per cent vs FY21,” Shailesh Chandra, managing director, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Ltd and Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Ltd, said while speaking at the event.
“With a robust SUV DNA at its core, and a plethora of new age materials, features and interfaces, we are confident that this coupe concept will redefine mainstream SUV design. Furthermore, with the concept Curvv, we now enter the Generation 2 EV architecture, which will further enhance the adoption of EVs in India by overcoming the current barriers. With this new architecture, we will strengthen the key pillars of Range, Performance and Technology, while retaining Safety and Reliability as hygiene offerings,” he added.
Tata Motors claims that the Generation 2 EV architecture will be advanced, flexible and capable of offering multi-powertrain options. Products on this architecture will be crafted to deliver a higher range while retaining the credibility and reliability standards set by the Generation 1 products powered by Ziptron.“The concept Curvv in its production version will provide customers with unprecedented versatility of use while giving rise to a new breed of vehicles in India that provides its users with a true lifestyle mobility solution to enjoy – a vehicle that combines functional attributes without compromising its premium aesthetic,” says the company.Tata Motors showcases new electric SUV concept Curvv
By Aniket Gupta: Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M), the leader among India’s tractor industry companies, has set its sights on a remarkable goal. It aims to double its exports from India within the next three years.
This ambitious plan will gain momentum from the introduction of its innovative platform, OJA, which was recently unveiled in Cape Town, South Africa.
Mahindra Tractors is a part of the group’s farm equipment division of the $19.4-billion Mahindra Group, and the flagship unit of the division.
During the year ended 31 March 2023, the Mahindra Group exported 18,104 tractors. Hemant Sikka, president of the farm equipment segment, aims for a substantial leap, aspiring to raise this figure to 36,000 tractors by fiscal 2025-26.
With the introduction of the OJA lineup, M&M is embarking on an expansion into a dozen new markets. This initiative includes the establishment of a new office in Thailand, which will serve as a strategic base for accessing the ASEAN markets.
The company's sights are set on European markets as well, with special focus on countries renowned for vine cultivation, such as Germany, Italy, and Spain. Sikka emphasized that M&M currently lacks a footprint in both regions, ASEAN and Europe.
What about the American market? Growth there has been slow, but Sikka anticipates this is a temporary situation.
In Brazil, M&M has already achieved a remarkable feat by increasing its market share from 3.5 per cent to an impressive 7.2 per cent in the past two years.
Distinct sub-platforms
Comprising four distinct sub-platforms — sub-compact, compact, small utility, and large utility — the OJA platform is a comprehensive family. At present, the sub-compact tractor range is earmarked exclusively for international markets and will not be offered in India. Special attention will be paid to the American market, according to Sikka.
However, Sikka has noted that if there is a demand for the sub-compact category within India, its introduction in India too would be considered.
Beginning in January 2024, M&M is set to initiate the export of the sub-compact series within the OJA tractor range. On the other hand, the introduction of the expansive utility platform is reserved for a later timeframe, anticipated around the fiscal year 2025-26. This forthcoming platform is created to serve both the domestic Indian market and international export markets.
What about pricing? The Mahindra OJA 27 HP tractor will be priced at Rs 5.64 lakh, and the OJA 40 HP tractor at Rs 7.35 lakh.
Production of the OJA range will happen at M&M's Zaheerabad facility in Telangana, which has a total annual manufacturing capacity of 100,000 tractors.
Sikka notes that the tractor industry has maintained a consistent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 7 percent over several years. In contrast, in the horticulture segment, tractors are experiencing a faster, double-digit growth rate.
The OJA series is a dedicated range of tractors tailored for specific uses, finding utility in both horticulture and paddy cultivation. Sikka explains that paddy farming need to be lighter as the presence of water makes heavier tractors vulnerable to sinking in the fields.In an unveiling event on Tuesday, 15 August 2023, M&M introduced three distinct OJA offerings spanning a weight range of 700 kg to 2000 kg and containing power capacities ranging from 20 horsepower to 40 horsepower. Source: https://www.domain-b.com/
Stellantis, the group that was formed through the merger Formerly known as Fiat Chrysler Automobile India prior to its incorporation into Stellantis in 2021, the company halted the production of its cars in India due to sluggish sales and intensifying competition from rival brands. The company is headquartered in Amsterdam. As of 2022, it was the fourth largest automaker by sales volume, behind Toyota, Volkswagen Group, and Hyundai Motor Group. Now Stellantis is considering reintroducing Fiat and bringing in some luxury brands, such as Alfa Romeo, into the Indian market, according to a report in the Economic Times. The company’s top priority are likely to be establishing the Jeep and Citroen brands. The Citroen C3 Aircross SUV is expected to be launched in October, and another Citroen model will be launched in early 2024, which will be based on the C-cubed platform. The discussions over these launches are in process.Stellantis believes that the Fiat brand is still supported by its Fiat customers. Source: https://www.domain-b.com/
A mod of a Rolls-Royce SMR plant (Image: Rolls-Royce SMR
Rolls-Royce SMR has signed an exclusive agreement with Dutch nuclear energy development company ULC-Energy BV to collaborate on the deployment of Rolls-Royce small modular reactor (SMR) power plants in the Netherlands.
ULC-Energy - established in 2021 and based in Amsterdam - aims to accelerate decarbonisation in the Netherlands by developing nuclear energy projects that efficiently integrate with residential and industrial energy networks in the country.
"ULC-Energy intends to develop nuclear projects deploying modern, state-of-the-art, modular reactors that are based on proven technology," Rolls-Royce SMR said. "The Rolls-Royce SMR has been selected by ULC-Energy as its SMR technology provider of choice."
It said that by signing the agreement, the two companies have "formalised their alignment and will be working closely together to advance application of this technology solution over coming years."
"This is an important and exciting step forward towards deploying Rolls-Royce SMRs in the Netherlands," said Rolls-Royce SMR CEO Tom Samson. "Working under the agreement with ULC-Energy, as a developer who will deploy our technology, we will pursue a range of opportunities to provide affordable low-carbon energy for domestic and industrial uses."
"Challenging energy market conditions, particularly in Western Europe, have clarified the importance of having reliable and affordable energy systems," said ULC-Energy founder and CEO Dirk Rabelink. "The Dutch government believes that nuclear can and should play a meaningful role in the Netherlands. The Rolls-Royce SMR is ideally suited for the Dutch market. At 470 MW, and with a capacity factor more than 95%, each unit makes a meaningful difference and can be deployed efficiently to either supply power to the grid, or supply power and heat to dedicated industrial users."
In December, the Netherlands' new coalition government placed nuclear power at the heart of its climate and energy policy. It said it would provide financial support to the goal of building new nuclear power plants. It outlined EUR50 million (USD50 million) for this in 2023, EUR200 million in 2024 and EUR250 million in 2025. It anticipated that cumulative support for new nuclear would reach EUR5 billion by 2030, while not assuming the power plants would be online by that time.
The Rolls-Royce SMR is a 470 MWe design based on a small pressurised water reactor. It will provide consistent baseload generation for at least 60 years. 90% of the SMR - about 16 metres by 4 metres - will be built in factory conditions, limiting on-site activity primarily to assembly of pre-fabricated, pre-tested, modules which significantly reduces project risk and has the potential to drastically shorten build schedules.
The design was accepted for Generic Design Assessment (GDA) review in March this year with the UK's Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy asking the UK's Office for Nuclear Regulation along with the environment regulators for England and Wales to begin the process.
Rolls-Royce SMR Chairman Paul Stein told the Reuters news agency in April that he hopes to get regulatory approval for the design by mid-2024, with the first unit producing power by 2029.
Rolls-Royce SMR said it will support international efforts to decarbonise energy systems, with a forecast to target GBP250 billion (USD295 billion) of exports. Memorandums of Understanding are already in place with Estonia, Turkey and the Czech Republic.
SWNS
In ‘laminar flow’, air moves smoothly in one direction. When turbulence begins, it goes every which way. Shutterstock
Jet streams and mountains are common causes of clear-air turbulence. Shutterstock
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