That Was The Week That Was 23-27 January 2023
A week in Haiku
Sometimes, the haiku – that classic Japanese poetry form of 5-7-5 syllables – is the only discipline that allows you to reduce things to what really matters, and nothing else. This week, the week that was, felt like one of those weeks. So, we look back at what was released, what was said and what it means, as pithily as it is possible to do.
Monday saw EASA and Eurocontrol put out two joint reports on how they are monitoring emissions and a handy guide to how to reduce emissions. Together, this deserved a review:
Emissions go down?
EASA-Eurocontrol
Watch how your flying
On Tuesday there was a report from EC sponsored rail research group EU Rail, published a new report noting that given infinite money, rail could be in a position to be a competitive threat to airlines for European travel. All we need is more spending on high speed rail, natch…
Europe’s trains need money,
Then competition is afoot
Rail industry says…
Tuesday had also seen Rome Airport sponsor an event in the Parliament about sustainability for aviation. Subscribers to the Aviation Intelligence Reporter will get further insight on that meeting (so, ask yourself, why not subscribe here and learn more), but there was a discussion, for some time, on whether we should go with carrots and sticks, or just carrots. The Chair of ACI Europe, Javier Marin, then gave the welcome address at a n ACI Europe new year reception on Wednesday. Carrots were mentioned again:
We love carrots, yes
We do. We hate sticks, tho’
But we love carrots.
One group not in need of additional carrots is the business aviation community, that had, what can only be described as a pretty good pandemic. WINGX, which monitors biz-av movements put out its weekly report on Thursday, noting, with dismay, that traffic had fallen back to 2019 levels. Imagine!
For Biz-Av alone
Demand like 2019
Is bad, not good, see?
Friday was quieter. All that condensing takes a toll. But nobody sleeps in the Council, which released its views on a proposal to harmonise data on short term accommodation. Not that the Council will need it, of course, given that they never sleep. Are we trying to regulate AirBnB? At least finding a consistent way to categorise and count them would be a good start, if you ask the Council.
Count short term bed night
Rentals; we need harmony
Not just from next door!
Other poetry forms are available of course. Iambic pentameter is a favourite. Brussels seems very well suited to Norse Sagas too. All contributions welcome.