editorial/ cover story - Air World

AVIATION NEWS
Environment
The global air transport industry
is committed to three sequential
goals to manage its 2% share of
global manmade carbon
emissions. These are:
• To improve fuel
efficiency 1.5% annually to 2020
• To cap net emissions
from 2020 with carbon-neutral
growth
• To cut net emissions in
half by 2050 compared with 2005
levels
To achieve these ambitious goals
the industry is pursuing a fourpillar
strategy based on more
technology investments, efficient
infrastructure and better
operations. As part of this
strategy, the global air transport
industry is seeking a globally
coordinated approach through the
International Civil Aviation
Organization (ICAO), including
for market based measures. Tyler
thanked Korea for its strong
support of this approach.
Korea’s support is particularly
important in light of Europe
including international aviation
in its unilateral and extraterritorial
Emissions Trading
Scheme (ETS) with airlines being
required to submit their permits
to Europe in April 2013. Under
this scheme Korean carriers
would need to purchase carbon
permits from Europe to cover
emissions over the entire length
of flights to and from Europe,
including emissions over Korea,
China, Russia, Mongolia and any
other state that is on the flight
path outside of Europe.
Korea is part of a group of some
25+ states which have met in
Delhi, Moscow and Washington
to make clear their opposition to
the EU ETS. “Nobody wants a
trade war. Convincing Europe to
create the space for success in the
ICAO discussions by somehow
lifting the immediate threat of its
unilateral actions is a top
priority,” said Tyler.
Cathay Pacific Airways
today unveiled its new
Regional Business Class
product, coinciding with the
airline’s 66th anniversary as
Hong Kong’s home carrier.
Speaking at an unveiling event
held at Cathay Pacific City, the
airline’s headquarters, Chief
Executive John Slosar said: “Our
new Regional Business Class seat
was developed after listening to
our customers’ feedback and it
underlines our commitment to
excellence in innovation and
providing an exceptional travel
experience. Our continued
investment in products and
services is a key element of our
ongoing commitment to the
development of Hong Kong as
one of the world’s leading
international aviation hubs.”
The new inflight product is the
result of an intensive passengerled
design process involving
input from the airline’s Marco
Polo Club members to refine
comfort, versatility and function.
Every aspect has been
thoughtfully designed around
passengers’ needs, providing a
space in which to dine, work,
read, watch TV or simply relax.
Cathay Pacific unveils
new Regional Business
Class
The principal feature of the new
product is the seat, which offers
an extensive recline, extended
legrest and innovative cradle
motion that ensure passengers
can rest in comfort. The seat pitch
has been increased from 45” to
47”, providing extra legroom for
passengers. The in-seat width has
also been increased from 20” to
21”, providing extra living space
for passengers. The seat has also
been sculpted to maximise
passenger living space. Each seat
is encased in a fixed shell
ensuring that passengers’ living
space is not encroached upon by
the passenger in front.
The seat features independent
electronic controls for recline and
the legrest, allowing passengers
to adjust the seat into their ideal
position at the touch of a button.
The ergonomically designed seat
articulates into a comfortable
“lazy-Z” position that allows
passengers to be cradled in the
optimum position for relaxation.
Passenger comfort is further
enhanced by a six-way
movement headrest and an
extended legrest.
The design of the seat has
ensured that ample storage space
is available for passengers’
personal baggage and items.
Each seat is equipped with a
universal power supply outlet to
keep electronic devices fully
charged. A multi-port connector
includes an USB port that can be
used to charge devices such as
mobile phones and BlackBerry
devices, and an
iPhoneÒ/iPodÒ/iPadÒ connector
that allows passengers to connect
their own devices and watch
video through the personal TV.
Other highlights of the product
include the introduction of the
StudioCX widescreen on-demand
entertainment system, which is a
new feature for Cathay Pacific’s
regional fleet. Each seat is
equipped with a new and
enlarged 12.1 inch, touchscreen
monitor, which is mounted into
the back of the fixed seat, a large
meal table that allows passengers
ample space to spread out while
they work or dine, and an
AIR WORLD October 2012-9