Organisations & Operators,

dnata, a leading global air and travel services provider, announced the promotion of Phil McGrane to the position of Chief Executive Officer (CEO), dnata Brazil with immediate effect.
In his new role, Phil will lead dnata’s overall strategy and business, driving the company’s growth and success across the country.
Phil has been with dnata for over 10 years. Since last July, he has overseen dnata Brazil’s operations at 29 airports as Acting CEO, managing a team of 5,000 local aviation professionals. In his previous position as Chief Commercial Officer, he was responsible for leading all of the company’s commercial activities, including business development and customer relations.
Phil has over 30 years’ experience in the aviation and transport industries. Prior to joining dnata he held various senior roles, supporting the commercial operations and growth of globally renowned companies in the Middle East, USA and Europe.
David Barker, Divisional Senior Vice President, Airport Operations, said: “Phil has made a significant contribution to dnata’s business in Brazil over the past decade. His strong leadership skills, commercial mindset and customer-centric approach make him the right person to lead the company through its next phase of growth in the country.ADVERTISEMENT“Phil’s appointment is a reflection of our commitment to promoting from within and recognising the contributions and achievements of our high-performing colleagues.”
In recent years dnata has significantly expanded its footprint in Brazil. It currently operates at 29 airports in the country, serving more than 15 airlines. In 2022, dnata acquired the remaining 30% stake to assume full ownership of dnata Brazil and has further plans to enhance its operations across South America.As one of the world’s largest air and travel services providers, dnata offers ground handling, cargo, travel and catering & retail services at over 130 airports in more than 30 countries across six continents.

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It is important for Budapest Airport that the employees of the BUD group should be able to count on the company even in difficult economic circumstances, which is why the airport operator increased the salaries of its employees by an average of 13 percent last March and by 10 percent in October, in an extraordinary procedure, bringing the 2023 wage increase forward.Part of this year’s wage increase was thus already introduced last fall, and the employer, taking into account the current economic circumstances, implemented the second instalment of the wage increase in March this year, raising wages by a further 7 percent. The employees of the BUD group will thus take home more than 17 percent more on average than last fall, and the company has increased basic wages by an average of more than 30 percent in a year.
Budapest Airport implemented two significant wage increases last year, in response to soaring inflation and the difficult economic conditions. In March, the wages of BUD group employees increased by an average of 13 percent (15 percent in some positions) and by a further 10 percent in October, with a part of the 2023 wage increase being brought forward. With a part of the 2023 wage increase being brought forward, Budapest Airport employees received increased salaries earlier than usual, thus supporting their livelihoods, and in March this year, the airport operator implemented the second part of the 2023 was increase. Together with the additional 7 per cent pay rise provided with March salaries, the wages of employees at Budapest Airport, RÜK Kft. and BUD Security Kft. increased by more than 17 per cent in six months and more than 30 per cent in a year, on average.
The amount of the Christmas bonus and the loyalty bonus have also increased. The allowance for staff commuting to work by car from outside Budapest is rising to 20 HUF/km from March, while employees from Budapest will continue to be entitled to a gross monthly travel allowance of 14 286 HUF gross, the net amount of which is equal to the price of a monthly public transport pass. For staff commuting from outside the city by train or bus, 86% of the fare is reimbursed, in line with legal provisions.
Budapest Airport also wants to support families, so in the case of paternity leave, where the father is entitled to ten working days of leave upon the birth of a child, but only 40% of the absentee pay is due after five days, the airport supplements the allowance to 100%.
Zsuzsa Zahorán-Pirisi, the chief human resources officer of Budapest Airport, emphasized: “We recently received great recognition; Budapest Airport was named the best airport in Europe among airports with 15-25 million passengers, which would not have been possible without the dedicated work of BUD group employees. Even though 2022 was the third year impacted by the downturn caused by the global pandemic and full recovery is still to come, it is important for us that our employees feel that Budapest Airport is grateful for their work and understands the difficulties they face every day, due to the increased prices. We are doing everything we can to support them in this difficult situation, and I am proud that with our current wage offer, we have managed to provide an outstanding wage increase. The supportive atmosphere characteristic of the company further reinforces the stability we offer them as an employer.”ADVERTISEMENT

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Airports Council International (ACI) released the annual airport climate action results for Airport Carbon Accreditation, the global carbon standard for airports founded and managed by ACI EUROPE on behalf of airports worldwideThe past reporting year, running from May 2021 to May 2022, ended with 395 airports spanning 79 countries engaging in carbon management and reduction at one of the six program levels. The 91 new accreditations reported this year represent the highest growth since Airport Carbon Accreditation’s inception in 2009. Airports have also made great strides in progressing to more stringent levels of accreditation – 86 airports upgraded to a higher level of carbon management during the year, with 89 having now achieved advanced levels of carbon management.
Highlighted amongst the program’s achievements is the sheer diversity of airports now certified. They include airports of all sizes: top global hubs such as London-Heathrow, Istanbul, Doha Hamad International, Singapore-Changi and Dallas Fort Worth are amongst the accredited rollcall, along with capital gateways in all continents such as Abidjan, Athens, Amman, Phnom Penh, Quito and San Jose. Equally, smaller airports serving remote areas, island nations and popular tourism destinations as diverse as Galapagos, Kelowna, Puerto Vallarta, Enfidha Hammamet, Trondheim and Sunshine Coast are proudly counted in their number.
The reporting period covers a timeframe when many airports were facing the profound impact of sluggish and fragile post-COVID-19 traffic recovery on airports’ financial and operational health. In this context, the results achieved serve to reconfirm airports’ unwavering determination to mitigate their impact on the climate.
Delivering tangible carbon savings
The latest carbon reduction and compensation results achieved by the airport industry are equally record-breaking. In the period covered, accredited airports succeeded in collectively reducing the CO2 emissions under their control by 549,643 tonnes, a reduction of -8.1%. This is the largest reduction ever achieved through the program. In addition, 898,821 tonnes of CO2e were compensated with high quality carbon credits, in line with ACI EUROPE’s Offsetting Guidance based on a qualitative assessment of the compensation mechanisms and offset types available on the market.ADVERTISEMENTNiclas Svenningsen, Manager for Programmes Coordination at the United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Change (UNFCCC) said: “The results announced today speak volumes of the global airport industry’s commitment to fighting climate change. Against the backdrop of worsening climate impacts and the window of opportunity to keep the warming below 1.5°C rapidly closing, we need all parts of our global economy to act now. Airports have clearly understood this message and are on the front line of climate mitigation within their spheres of influence and lending their impetus to other industry actors. I commend each and every airport engaged in this collective effort to advance the decarbonisation of the airport industry globally.”
ACI World Director General Luis Felipe de Oliveira said: “The record-breaking results of the ACI Airport Carbon Accreditation program are great achievements by the world’s airports. Founded by ACI EUROPE, this program has become a global success—as reflected in its year over year growth. Congratulations to all 395 airports, spanning 79 countries across all ACI Regions, that have engaged in carbon management and reduction. Despite the challenges brought on by the impact of the pandemic, the airport industry continues to demonstrate its commitment to net zero carbon emissions for international aviation by 2050, in line with the Paris Agreement.”ACI EUROPE Director General Olivier Jankovec said: “The Airport Carbon Accreditation programme is at the heart of what decarbonising an industry like aviation must be about: aspirational yet deeply practical and actionable, charting not only achievements today but the way forwards for tomorrow. Airports know well the role they play in their communities and the expectations that air passengers have with regard to our shared responsibility for the climate and environment. The Airport Carbon Accreditation programme provides a framework for measurable progress and demonstrable results. We are intensely proud of the achievements to date, and the appetite for continued change.”
Alignment with the Paris Agreement
The latest addition to the program framework, Levels 4 (Transition) and 4+ (Transformation), require airports to align their carbon management and reduction trajectory with the objectives of the Paris Agreement, according to which global warming should be limited to below 2⁰C and ideally 1.5⁰C. Their creation back in July 2019 marked a step-change in the program’s ambition level, laying the ground to accompany airports of all sizes and locations to reach Net Zero CO2.
The number of airports accredited at these levels reached 321 in the reporting period, pointing to the airport community’s readiness to pursue full decarbonisation in line with, or in some cases even more rapidly than the timelines enshrined in the global climate goals.

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Regent has more than doubled its collection of family adventures for 2023, expanding from an exploratory handful of itineraries into a fully-fledged family programme, opening up its pioneering spirit and in-depth destination knowledge to adventurers of all ages.
The 2023 family collection now includes holidays in the Azores, Borneo, Iceland, Finland, Jordan, the Norwegian Fjords, Slovenia and Sweden.
Andrea Godfrey, Regent head of product and marketing, said: “Regent has always been about taking travellers to some of Europe and Asia’s most fascinating and lesser-explored places.
“We have dipped our toe into the water of family holidays in recent years, and now – in response to customer demand – we have expanded our programme to include a family option in almost all of our most popular destinations, from the Nordic countries to Slovenia and the Azores.”
He added: “The collection has been carefully put together by our destination experts, each of whom has a deep knowledge and passion for their ‘patch’, so agents can be assured their clients will be experiencing the very best of what each place has to offer family adventurers. ADVERTISEMENT“Many of the trips can be tailored to feature upgraded or self-catering accommodation options, and when agents pick up the phone to us, they know they will be getting the best advice to meet their clients’ needs.”
Some of the new family trips for 2023 include:
The volcanic islands of the Azores have plenty of activities for even the most discerning of teens, from canyoning, coasteering and sailing to canoeing and whale watching, and budding geologists will love the belching steam vents and volcanic fumaroles.
Highlights of the new Family Adventures in the Azores itinerary include exploring the capital Ponta Delgada by bike; a whale watching excursion by catamaran; canoeing on the lakes at Furnas including seeing the fumaroles (and witnessing how the traditional Cozida das Furnas stew is cooked underground using volcanic heat); an off-road adventure to mountains, beaches, lakes and thermal water pools and a canyoning and coasteering experience, plus plenty of free time to hike, fish, snorkel and stand up paddle board.
Characterised by lake and forest adventures, this seven-night fly-drive family break is based in a cosy log cabin with private sauna and hot tub at the Lehmonkärki Resort on the shore of Päijänne, Finland’s second largest lake.
The Finnish Lakeland Family Summer Break includes a day trip to the city of Lahti for its Wooden Architecture Park and Ski Museum (with ski jump and biathlon shooting simulation); rowing to a ‘secret’ island to swim or fish in Lake Salajärvi; evening fishing along the Vääksy Canal and Lake Vesijärvi in search of perch and pike; donning a special suit to go lake floating; an adventure course in the trees at the Flowpark Adventure Park and a visit to a farm to meet the resident Siberian huskies.
More Information
Agents can access assets including Regent images and tour itineraries for marketing purposes by logging on to the free online toolkit here.
The full Regent 2023 brochure is available to view online here and features the details of the Regent team members and their specific areas of expertise.

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​Book Now, Ski Next Season: 50% Off Stays At Panorama Mountain Resort With Frontier Ski, a provider of bespoke, tailor made ski and snowboard holidays across North America for over 30 years.​It’s never too early to start thinking about next season’s ski holiday, as North American specialist operator Frontier Ski is offering a 50% discount on stays at British Columbia’s Panorama Mountain Resort. The offer, which covers the entire season, includes a further 40% off transfers (a total saving of £1,200pp), and applies to accommodation at Peaks Lodge, Taynton Lodge, Panorama Springs and Summit Lodge. Prices for 2023/24 lift passes are also being slashed by 50%, with a nine-day pass priced at only £386pp. Bookings should be made before 15 June.
​Ski Product Manager at Frontier Ski, Michael Williamson-Giles, comments, “With advanced bookings trending, planning your ski holiday at the earliest opportunity will give you access to the best deals and the widest range of accommodation. Booking well ahead of time is also a major advantage if you are looking to travel in peak season or wish to stay at one of North America’s smaller ski resorts.”

Located on the Kootenay Rockies Powder Highway and blessed with spectacular views of the Purcell and Rocky mountains, the Panorama Mountain Resort is home to almost 3,000 acres of terrain, 120 trails, eight lifts, two alpine bowls, a terrain park, Canada’s largest slopeside hot pools (all guests of Panorama have use of the amazing hot pools at The Panorama Springs), and one of the top 10 vertical drops on the continent. Its seamless ski in-ski out experience and intimate village setting appeals to families and couples in search of a more laidback après-ski scene. Also attracting the eco-crowd, Panorama has a firm stance on sustainability, with the resort on a mission to save the endangered Whitebark pine tree*.​A snowcat shuttle service allows skiers to enjoy some of the more extraordinary mountain terrain via Monster X, with alternatives to ski and snowboarding, including fat tire biking, ice skating, snowshoeing, tandem paragliding and snowmobiling direct from the village.
ADVERTISEMENT​Stay at Peaks Lodge, the most modern condo complex in the resort and one of Panorama’s most sought-after properties. Conveniently located, its luxury self-catering condos are only a short stroll from the main base area by the ice rink. 10-nights with Frontier Ski from £1,529pp (two sharing) including all accommodation (one bedroom suite featuring a Split King bed in the bedroom with a Queen sofa bed in the lounge and private balcony), return flights with Air Canada in economy class from London Heathrow to Calgary, checked baggage and ski carriage, and return scheduled transfers from Calgary to Panorama. Price based on mid-January 2024 departures. Offer valid on stays of two nights or more. Subject to availability.
​Frontier Ski (020 8776 8709; [email protected]; Frontier-ski.co.uk). ATOL PROTECTED No 5405 ABTA W3207. For press enquiries please contact [email protected]

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Matthew Heffernan, Chair of the Board of The Calgary Airport Authority, is pleased to announce the appointment of Chris Dinsdale as the new President & CEO of The Calgary Airport Authority
After an extensive international search, Chris Dinsdale was identified as the best strategic leader to take YYC through its next phase of growth. Chris was chosen for his deep experience, passion and proven track record in airports, along with his emphasis on developing lean and efficient operations.  In addition, his focus on providing a unique and high-quality passenger experience and his experience developing strategic airline partnerships will allow YYC to continue its development into the future. The Board is confident Chris will amplify YYC’s success in providing our guests with the memorable and exceptional experiences they’ve come to expect from YYC and providing strong leadership for our Crew.
“Chris is a highly regarded leader in aviation, finance and business,” said Matthew Heffernan, Board Chair. “We are confident his leadership, operational knowledge and focus on positive customer experiences will ensure The Authority continues on its path of robust recovery and growth.”
Born and raised in Canada, Chris Dinsdale joins The Authority from the Budapest Airport where he has worked for almost eight years, most recently as CEO.
“Airports and aviation create jobs, drive innovation, and support economic diversification. I am delighted to join The Calgary Airport Authority, which plays a critical role in the Alberta and Canadian economies,” said Chris Dinsdale.  “I am honoured to have the opportunity to work with the excellent team at YYC and very excited for the opportunity to continue to build on YYC’s solid foundation of ensuring a world class travel experience for our guests.”ADVERTISEMENTUnder Chris’ strong leadership, the Budapest Airport has recently received one of the highest awards in the airport sector from the Airport International Council, being voted by passengers as the “2022 Best Airport in Europe (15m – 25m PAX).” Also, during Chris Dinsdale’s tenure as CEO of the Budapest Airport, the airport received the 2022 Skytrax World Airport Awards, “Best Airport in Eastern Europe” award and received the 2022 “Cargo Hub of the Year” award at the distinguished Air Cargo News Awards. In addition, Chris has pursued a strong focus on community engagement and sustainability, with the Budapest Airport setting an aggressive 2035 deadline for achieving net zero emissions.
Chris Dinsdale will replace Bob Sartor who announced his departure as President & CEO in March 2022 after six years in the role. Chris Dinsdale will start his tenure at The Calgary Airport Authority later this year.
“On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to thank Bob for his dedication and exceptional leadership. We are grateful that he accomplished the goals he set out to achieve, including the strides he made in modernizing leadership, finances, and partnerships. We are pleased Bob has agreed to continue to lead the Authority until Chris joins us. We wish Bob the very best in his future endeavors,” said Mr. Heffernan.

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BER Airport is putting every effort into avoiding the chaotic airport scenes of 2022. At ITB Berlin 2023, BER managing director Thomas Hoff Andersson presented three services that travellers can use to make life easier.Firstly, there is BER Runway, a new service that lets passengers book a security check time slot. Secondly, people with hidden disabilities can use a free sunflower-badged lanyard to discreetly indicate they require a little more time or assistance. And thirdly, BER Airport is focusing increasingly on self-service points.
Using BER Runway, BER passengers can now book security check time slots. This can be done online for separate access to security in Terminal one in order to reduce possible waiting times. The service is free of charge. Thomas Hoff Andersson: “It lets passengers plan their airport stay more reliably and minimise stress on their trip.“ Kasper Hounsgaard, Co-CEO Copenhagen Optimization, added: “The future of aviation lies in putting passengers more in control of their trips. Passengers who select security checks outside peak times help make procedures smoother.“
The Sunflower programme offers assistance to people with hidden disabilities. BER is Germany’s first airport to introduce a sunflower-badged lanyard, an internationally recognised symbol used in many countries. With it, people can discreetly signal a hidden disability and the fact they require a little more time or patience. Sunflower director Ruth Rabét said: “Hidden disabilities cover a wide range including autism, cognitive disabilities, mental health problems, anxiety disorders, to name but a few.“ The lanyard is free and no proof must be supplied.
Thirdly, BER aims to expand its self-service points. Thomas Hoff Andersson: “Passengers can use these to check in on their own and drop off their baggage. Several airlines are already offering this service, either just for dropping baggage or additionally for printing boarding cards.” Services are scheduled to expand by 2023 and it is hoped that by the summer at the latest self-service points will be so numerous as to noticeably speed up passenger check-ins.

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USA Basketball has announced an agreement with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi).
Under the terms of the deal, the United States will host three games in Abu Dhabi featuring the men’s national teams from the United States, Germany and Greece.
The USA Basketball Showcase Abu Dhabi represents USA Basketball’s first men’s national team activity in the United Arab Emirates.
In preparation for the 2023 FIBA Men’s World Cup, the United States men’s national team will host Greece and Germany on August 18th and 20th, respectively.
Germany and Greece are set to play on August 19th.
“USA Basketball is thrilled to work with DCT Abu Dhabi to bring the USA Basketball Showcase to Abu Dhabi.
“This is the first time our Men’s national team will play in the UAE and we’re excited to engage with fans from across the globe, while also offering our players and coaches memorable on- and off-court experiences,” said Jim Tooley, chief executive of USA Basketball. ADVERTISEMENT“We are grateful to the national federations of Greece and Germany for their participation as we prepare for the 2023 FIBA World Cup, arguably the toughest international tournament in basketball.”
Tickets will go on sale this spring, but fans can register for updates by clicking here. 
Saleh Al Geziry, director general of Tourism at DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “It’s set to be an unforgettable summer in Abu Dhabi and it’s an honour to host the first USA Basketball Showcase in the UAE.
“We look forward to welcoming players and fans from the USA, Germany and Greece, to cheer on their national teams and to discover a wide range of experiences in Abu Dhabi that inspire, excite and restore.”
Additional USA Basketball Showcase details, including team rosters, broadcast information and training camp dates, will be announced later.
More Information
The United States officially qualified for the 2023 FIBA World Cup last month.
One of seven teams set to represent FIBA Americas in the 32-team field, the USA will play all its games in Manila as the tournament is set for August 25th to September 10th, in Indonesia, Japan and the Philippines.
The World Cup draw is set for April 29th, in Manila.
For more information, click here.
The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) drives the sustainable growth of the culture and tourism sectors, fuels economic progress and helps achieve Abu Dhabi’s wider global ambitions.
Find out more on the official website.

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