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BLR Airport introduces Robots for an enhanced Passenger Experience

Bengaluru, June 07, 2022: In one of its own innovative concept, Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru has introduced the first-of-its-kind AI-driven, assistance robots to enhance passenger experience at BLR Airport. Currently, at the trial stage, 10 robots have been deployed to help guide passengers through the airport and answer basic queries. The robot count will be increased in a calibrated manner and will be further developed over a period in terms of functionality and features, after gauging customer feedback. BLR Airport has partnered with Artiligent Solutions Pvt. Ltd. – specialists in AI and Robotics, to model the robots along with creating a customised passenger services software. The default language of communication will be English, with additional regional and international languagesin the offing. Jayaraj Shanmugam, Chief Operating Officer, BIAL, said that the airportprides itself on being a trendsetter when it comes to blending innovation andproviding a seamless experience to passengers. “Pre-empting passenger requirements and complementing new-age technology with a focused customer-centric team approach has been our winning combination. These smart robots are the latest addition to our offering which shall further boost our concentrated endeavor to provide exceptional customer service.” Rupesh Sawant, Chief Executive Officer, Artiligent said: “Innovative technology is revolutionisingairtravel across the world. Artiligent ideated the AI_PORT concept to develop an enhanced airport experience for travellers. We are proud to associate with BLR Airport, the first airport in India to launch our solution and take a leap in their digital transformation journey.” The robots will provide a variety of services which include providing information on the flight status, passenger convenience services, directional assistance, Retail and F&B information. They shall navigate autonomously through the terminal and escort passengers to their desired locations. If due to any reason, the robot is unable to answer queries, passengers shall be immediately connected tothe ‘Airport Help Desk’ via video call, on the robot screen itself.

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Malaysia Airlines flies its first passenger flight with Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel

6th June 2022; Malaysia: In conjunction with World Environment Day, Malaysia Airlines, the national carrier of Malaysia, operated its first passenger flight using Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel™ (SAF) on flight MH603 from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore, which was refueled at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). The historic flight was operated with a Boeing 737-800 aircraft fueled by a blend of conventional jet fuel and Neste’s SAF, which is produced from 100% renewable waste and residue raw materials, such as animal fat waste that was used for the SAF on this flight. Produced by Neste, the world’s largest SAF producer, the fuel was supplied in collaboration with PETCO Trading (UK) Ltd, which is PETRONAS’ marketing and trading arm based in Europe, while product handling and refueling was carried out by PETRONAS Dagangan Berhad (PDB) at KLIA. Following yesterday’s milestone, the long-term supply of SAF will be secured at KLIA for future flights operated by sister airlines under Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG), including Firefly, as well as other potential airline customers wishing to reduce their carbon emissions with SAF. Philip See, Group Chief Sustainability Officer of MAG, said: “MAG aims to be a pioneer in using SAF for flights in Malaysia as part of our commitment to achieving socio-economic development and reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. We have taken proactive measures in minimising our carbon footprint from the ground up through measures taken within our operations, including fuel efficiency programmes and SAF.” “With the commencement of our first passenger flight using SAF, we encourage passengers to join us on this journey as we take the necessary steps to minimise our environmental impacts and plan for more flights powered by SAF for the betterment of the industry, nation, and future of our planet. Moving forward, we will look to make SAF the cleaner and more viable energy option for our regular flights by 2025.” Azrul Osman Rani, PDB’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer said: “In line with PETRONAS’ commitment towards achieving Net Zero Carbon Emissions by 2050, exploring the supply of SAF at KLIA is a natural progression for us with aviation fuel being one of our key products. With two proven flights, PDB has demonstrated its capabilities and infrastructure readiness in supplying SAF in KLIA from now onwards to support the aviation industry’s sustainability agenda. Coupled with commitment from the national taskforce, we are confident that we will be able to jointly accelerate the transformation of the Malaysian aviation industry into a sustainable one.” Neste is committed to supporting aviation reach its ambitious emission reduction goals and is currently expanding its global SAF production capacity to 1.5 million tons per annum by the end of 2023. In neat form, Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80%* over the life cycle, compared to fossil jet fuel. Neste-produced SAF is made from 100% renewable and sustainably sourced waste and residue raw materials. “This collaboration with PETRONAS enables our first supply of Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel to Malaysia,” says Sami Jauhiainen, Vice President APAC, Renewable Aviation at Neste. “I am excited to see how countries and airlines in the Asia-Pacific region are setting ambitious targets to decarbonize aviation, and increasingly many airlines are taking SAF into use to reduce their emissions and enable their travelers to fly more sustainably. Neste is committed to playing its part as the expansion of our Singapore refinery will enable production of 1 million tons of SAF by the end of the first quarter in 2023, ready to support the Asia-Pacific and global aviation markets.”

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Mumbai’s CSMIA welcomes Lufthansa Cargo ‘NAMASTE INDIA’

Mumbai, 1st June 2022: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) welcomed Lufthansa Cargo freighter ‘Namaste India’, – the name chosen for the Boeing 777 freighter aircraft which now operates between Frankfurt and Mumbai. This special initiative by the airline symbolises the significance of India as one of the most important markets for Lufthansa Cargo and its effort to develop a prominent Air Cargo corridor between Germany and India, building strong and robust cargo operations between the two countries.

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FARNBOROUGH INTERNATIONAL AIRSHOW 2022

Event Date: 18-22 July 2022. Venue: Farnborough International Exhibition and Conference Center Host Country: United Kingdom Format: PhysicalThe Farnborough International Airshow will make its return this year serving as the first major event to reconnect colleagues from around the world, enabling business growth and recovery. The Farnborough International Airshow has been the global platform for the aerospace and defence industry. FIA2022 will be a strategic opportunity to witness the leaps in development that have taken place as well as showcasing innovation to a truly global audience, face-to-face. For more information, login: www.farnboroughairshow.com

Top Stories

Jet Airways makes new appointments at the senior leadership

Gurugram, 23May 2022: The Jalan Kalrock Consortium announced new appointments for the Jet Airways leadership team, as the airline prepares to make a comeback with fresh funding, changed ownership, and new management. The following accomplished individuals have been appointed: • Prabh Sharan Singh, Chief Digital Officer • HR Jagannath, Vice President – Engineering • Mark Turner, Vice President – Inflight Product and Services • Vishesh Khanna, Vice President – Sales, Distribution, and Customer Engagement Sanjiv Kapoor, Chief Executive Officer, said: “We are delighted to welcome these extremely talented and experienced leaders to the Jet Airways family.All of us in the senior management team of Jet Airways share many things in common, the most important of which is our joint sense of purpose and passion of rebuilding Jet as India’s most people-focused and loved airline, updated for the digital age. This stellar team is deeply committed to bringing the ‘joy of flying’ back to the skies, and I am looking forward to working with them to create history.” NEW MEMBERS JOINING THE SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM Prabh Sharan Singh (Chief Digital Officer) takes charge on 1 June 2022. Prabh will head the IT and Digital division and lead the creation of a modern technological and digital ecosystem for Jet Airways, focused on providing a simplified and consistent experience to internal and external users on all IT and digital platforms. Currently Senior Vice President at WNS Global Services, Prabh is a Digital Transformation executive with years of leadership experience in driving digital strategies and automation levers. HR Jagannath(Vice President – Engineering)takes charge on 23 May 2022. He will lead Jet’s engineering and maintenance team and brings with him over 40 years of aviation experience.Jagannath most recently served as Chief Executive Officer of Air India Engineering Services (Air India’s MRO subsidiary). Mark Turner (Vice President – Inflight Product and Services)takes charge on 15 June 2022. Mark will play a key role in defining and shaping the infight customer experience of Jet Airways.Mark led Jet Airways’ inflight services team between 2008 and 2011, a phase of rapid growth at Jet Airways. Vishesh Khanna (Vice President – Sales, Distribution, and Customer Engagement)takes charge in July 2022. Vishesh joins the airline from VFS Global Ltd, where he currently serves as Business Head e-Visa. He has nearly 30 years of experience in the aviation and travel sectors across B2C and B2B sales, having held executive positions at various airlines in the past. Earlier this year, JKC appointed Sanjiv Kapoor as CEO,Vipula Gunatilleka as CFO, Capt. PP Singh as Vice President- Flight Operations and Accountable Manager, Alphonso Dass as Vice President – Airports & Airport Training, Nakul Tuteja as Vice President – Human Resources & Administration, and Ronit Baugh as General Manager & Head of PR and Corporate Communications. Last week, Jet Airways received its revalidated Air Operator Certificate (AOC) from DGCA enabling the airline to resume its scheduled commercial operations in India. The airline intends to recommence commercial operations in the next quarter of this year (July-September 2022).

Top Stories, Tourism

SATTE 2022 provides perfect boost for the resurgent travel industry

Greater Noida, May 18, 2022: Informa Markets in India launched the star-studded SATTE 2022 at the India Expo Mart, Greater Noida.The three-day expo event had an Inauguration Ceremony where Dignitaries like Shripad Yesso Naik, MoS Tourism, GoI; Dr. M. Mathiventhan, MoT, Govt. of Tamil Nadu; Rupinder Brar, Addl. DG, MoT, GoI; Alhasan Ali Aldabbagh, Chief Markets Officer – Asia Pacific, Saudi Tourism Authority; Jyoti Mayal, Vice-Chairperson, FAITH; Rajiv Mehra, Hony. Secretary, FAITH; Subhash Goyal, Member, National Advisory Council, MoT; Yogesh Mudras, MD & Pallavi Mehra, Group Director of Informa Markets. As many as 36,000 + qualified industry buyers and trade visitors across multiple industry verticals like travel, wedding planning, and corporate travel graced the occasion with lucrative business opportunities. The tourism industry experts and moguls shared valuable insights on the massive revival potential of the tourism industry. SATTE has received immense support from the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, National and International Tourism Boards, Indian and International Travel and Trade associations and organisations, amongst others. Indian states like Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Kerala, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Goa, Madhya Pradesh and others marked their presence at the expo. International Destinations like Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives, Mauritius Tourism Authority, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Azerbaijan, Israel, Turkey, South Africa, Malaysia, New Zealand, South Korea, Utah, Kazakhstan, Visit Brussels, Miami, Zimbabwe, Los Angeles and many more exhibited at the expo. The event also got a great response from private players. Speaking at the SATTE Inauguration ceremony, Shripad Yeso Naik, Minister of State for Tourism, Govt of India, said, “SATTE has become the leading travel and tourism exhibition in more than two decades of its existence. It is a hub of idea and knowledge sharing between enterprising, creative minds and simultaneously coming up with well-crafted solutions to accelerate growth in the travel-tour industry. It has garnered huge support from diversified industries and international and national travel boards. An event of this magnitude is happening in India with humongous foreign participation and footfalls.” He further added, “The travel and tourism industry is one of the world’s largest economic sectors. It has witnessed a huge spurt of growth in the post-pandemic period and is set to continue the momentum and continue on its path of revival.” Yogesh Mudras, MD, Informa Markets added, “We are overwhelmed to get such an amazing response from our exhibitors and are grateful for the support from authorities and tourism boards. The tourism industry is a mode of recovery from the aftereffects of Covid-19 and India is open to business and travel. Exhibitions like SATTE will play a crucial role in juxtaposing a positive and growth-oriented attitude among the stakeholders and industrial communities. It will also strengthen the vision of ‘Atmanirbharta’ as postulated by the Government. We are optimistic about the future growth trends and want to be a torchbearer in the tourism revival talks. Equitable and sustainable growth and greater integration of newer technology solutions are objectives that need to be attained by the tourism industry.” Many international and domestic organisations and associations have extended their support to SATTE. It includes organisations like the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India (ADTOI), Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI), Outbound Tour Operators Association of India (OTOAI), IATA Agents Association of India (IAAI), Hotel Association of India (HAI), Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI), India Convention Promotion Bureau (ICPB), Network of Indian MICE Agents (NIMA), Association of Buddhist Tour Operators (ABTO), Universal Federation of Travel Agents Association (UFTAA), Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), Skal, Enterprising Travel Agents Association (ETAA) amongst others to name a few who have helped bolster the efforts of SATTE this year too. The SATTE event also has an eclectic and enlightening conference lineup that includes subjects such as India Tourism: The Road Ahead!; Cinema & Tourism: Enhancing Destination’s Image; Outbound Tourism: Refresh, Rebuild, Re-strategise; Ayurveda and Wellness Tourism: The Big Opportunity for India Tourism; ICPB Conference on MICE and Travel Technology: Making the Future Perfect. The after-show hours will include exciting and glamorous networking evenings each night, including the Jammu & Kashmir Networking Night on Day 2 and Mauritius Tourism Networking Night on Day 3.

Civil Aviation, Top Stories

Ethiopian Marks 50 Years of Uninterrupted Service to Mumbai

Mumbai 28 April 2022: Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s largest airline group is celebrating its 50 years of continuous service to Mumbai.Ethiopian Airlines made its debut flight to Mumbai, one of its oldest destinations in Asia, on 01 December 1971 although it started operations to New Delhi in 1966, just 20 years after the airline was founded. The once a week flight from Addis Ababa to Mumbai and onward to Peking operated by B720 aircraft pioneered the air transport linkage between Africa-India and China. Gradually over the years, the frequency increased to twice and then thrice weekly until Ethiopian commenced daily operations to Mumbai. A moment of pride for Ethiopian Airlines Mumbai operations was on 12 February 2015 when the airline increased its services to Mumbai to double daily proving the great scope it had in the commercial capital of India. Ethiopian has expanded its operation to three passenger and five cargo destinations with its enhanced services and modern fleet. Marking the 50 years of uninterrupted service to Mumbai, Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mr. Mesfin Tasew said, “We are thrilled to have celebrated this big milestone-50 years of uninterrupted service to Mumbai thereby connecting the people of India to the vast Ethiopian global network. Mumbai is the commercial capital of India and one of the key destinations in Asia; we will maintain our commitment to serve Mumbai, thereby providing it access to our 127 destinations with our latest aircraft. Ethiopian has paved the way for people to people and trade ties between India and Africa with its multiple destinations in India. We are glad to have served Mumbai and the people of India in general for the last 55 years. “ The five decades’ journey of Ethiopian Airlines in India started from B720, B727, B757, B767, and became the first to bring the B787 Dreamliner to India. With great fanfare, Mumbai welcomed Ethiopian state of the art aircraft on August 25, 2012. Currently, Ethiopian operates A350 and B777 to Mumbai, New Delhi and Bengaluru in India.Ethiopian freighters also operate to Mumbai, New Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai and Ahmedabad.

Top Stories

Govt. approves privitasation of Pawan Hans Ltd

New Delhi, 29th April 2022: The government has finalised disinvestment for state-owned helicopter service provider Pawan Hans Ltd.An empowered cabinet group picked Star9 Mobility Private Ltd as winner for buying 51% stake in Pawan Hans.The value of sale is of Rs 211.14 CR.Star9 Mobility Pvt.Ltd is a consortium of Big Charter Pvt Ltd lead by Capt Sanjay Mandaviya(26%),Maharaja Aviation Pvt.Ltd(25%)& Almas Global Opportunity Fund SPC(49%),Cayman Island based and managed by UAE’s Almas Capital.The rights will remain with the Indian partner & base will remain at Rohini Heliport,Delhi. According to the press release issued by PIB, the government’s stake sale was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, comprising union ministers Nitin Gadkari, Nirmala Sitharaman, and Jyotiraditya M Scindia. The government had received three financial bids for its stake in Pawan Hans. The Employees’ Union of Pawan Hans, Global Vectra Helicorp and Heligo Charters were widely expected to bid for the company.Pawan Hans is expected to report a net loss of Rs 100 crore in both 2020-21 and 2021-22 after reporting a loss of Rs 28.08 crore in 2019-20 and Rs 69.2 crore in 2018-19. The state-run helicopter operator had also reported a fall in revenue to Rs 346 crore in FY20 from Rs 381 crore in FY19, according to the information memorandum document floated by the government to invite expressions of interest to invest in the company in 2020.

Top Stories

Jazeera Airways announces KD3.8 million net profit in first quarter 2022

Kuwait, April 25, 2022: Jazeera Airways has announced net profit of KD3.8 million for the first quarter (Q1) of 2022, compared to a net loss of KD5.2 million in the first quarter of 2021. Total revenue for the quarter reached KD35.7 million, up 339.2%, while operating profit stood at KD5.3 million, up 199.3%. These record earnings were supported by close to sixfold increase in number of passengers with restrictions at Kuwait International Airport being eased and travel capacity gradually increased to levels near to the pre-pandemic period. Similarly, load factor reached 75.2%, an increase of 28.7%. Commenting on the results, Jazeera Airways Chairman, Marwan Boodai said,“The gradual return of travel capacity at Kuwait International Airport since the second half of last year as well as the lifting of travel restrictions worldwide have shown that there is indeed a latent and strong appetite for travel. Jazeera has focused in the first quarter on expanding its services and capacity in preparation of the launch of new tourist and high demand destinations during the year, all supported with a strong financial position and a cautious strategy to mitigate the risks of recent geopolitical developments.” In comparison, during Q1 2019 before the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, Jazeera had reported a net profit of KD1.5 million and flown 529.6 thousand passengers. Q1 2022 performance shows strong resilience in the commercial travel, as well as positive sentiment to the sector for 2022 and beyond. First Quarter 2022 Review Jazeera Airways achieved a new milestone as an “Approved Training Organization” certified by Kuwait’s Directorate for Civil Aviation, enabling the airline to conduct training programs for pilots and cabin crews from its headquarters in the State of Kuwait. The move enables the airline to expand its capabilities to train the required manpower for future growth. The airline has also been certified to conduct performance of line maintenance on its aircraft; a certification that increases its operational efficiency significantly. Jazeera also inaugurated the VIP service, which offers the first private terminal experience at Kuwait International Airport, serving departing and arriving passengers traveling on airlines operating from Terminals 1 and 5 and for general aviation and private jets. The VIV Terminal gives passengers the benefits of a private check-in reception and handling services. Additionally, Jazeera Airways also continued to grow its network with the launch of a new service to the coastal city of Chittagong in Bangladesh. The service is the second for the airline to Bangladesh following the launch of Dhaka in October 2020, serving over 200,000 Bangladeshi nationals living in Kuwait and connecting to more passengers across the GCC region. 2022 Outlook Jazeera has announced plans to launch new routes ahead of the summer season to cater to high tourist demand. The airline has confirmed the launch of routes to Vienna and Prague in June, in addition to other destinations that will be announced during the year.

Top Stories

Nagchala Airport in Mandi to be Developed

New Delhi, 25th April 2022: The Ministry of Civil Aviation and Govt. of Himachal Pradesh signed an MoU for development of a Green Field Airport in Nagchala, Mandi District of Himachal Pradesh.Signing Ceremony was graced by Civil Aviation Minsiter Jyotiraditya  Scindia and Jai Ram Thakur, CM of Himachal Pradesh along with senior officials from AAI, MoCA and state govt. officials of Himachal Pradesh including Rajiv Bansal, Secretary, MoCA, Sanjiv Kumar, Chairman, AAI, Rubina Ali, JS, MoCA, Ram Subhag Singh, CS, Govt. of Himachal Pradesh,Devesh Kumar, Principal Secretary, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Dinesh Guleria, ATDO, Govt. of Himachal Pradesh, AK Pathak, Member (Planning), AAI, K. Vinayak Rao, Member (Finance), M. Suresh, Member (ANS), AAI, and Ms V. Vidhya, ED (JVC/PPP). The new greenfield airport at Nagchala, Mandi is being developed under the Greenfield Airport Policy of MoCA and a Joint Venture Company between State Government of Himachal Pradesh and Airport Authority of India has been formed. The projected land requirement for airport is 515 acres approx. and the project is estimated to cost around Rs 900 crore excluding the cost of land. Speaking on the occasion, Scindia said, “We are committed to provide last mile connectivity to the people of Himachal Pradesh. With this aim in mind, we are developing new aviation infrastructure as well as upgrading existing facilities in Himachal Pradesh whether it is development of new green field airport in Mandi or acquisition of additional land for extension of runways at existing airports. With this, we are committed to develop civil aviation as a harbinger of economic development for the region.” There are 3 airports i.e. Shimla, Kullu, & Kangra and 5 heliports i.e. Kangnidhar, Shimla, Rampur, Baddi, and SASE(Manali) in Himachal Pradesh that are developed or being developed which would give a massive boost to tourism industry of the state once completed.

FOREWORD

Dear Readers,

 

Welcome to the latest edition of Aviation World. This is an incredibly significant issue for us, perfectly timed to align with several prominent aviation events unfolding across the globe.

 

Chief among them is the Farnborough International Airshow, taking place from July 20th to 24th, 2026, in Hampshire, United Kingdom. Ranked as one of the world’s premier events for aviation, aerospace, and defense, this year’s airshow arrives at a crucial moment. Against a backdrop of geopolitical turbulence, Farnborough provides an invaluable platform to engage with global leaders and gain firsthand perspectives on the future of the industry. Inside, you will find our comprehensive curtain-raiser report focusing on the show’s core themes, as well as the highly anticipated static and aerobatic aircraft displays.

 

On our front cover, we are proud to feature Capt. Vaibhav Goutham Suresh, Director of the School of Aviation, Logistics and Tourism Management (SALTM) at Galgotias University. In an exclusive interview, Capt. Suresh highlights how SALTM bridges the gap between academia and the runway, delivering a comprehensive curriculum that ensures graduates are industry-ready from day one. Complementing this, our special feature on SALTM dives deeper into how the institution maintains world-class academic standards and a cutting-edge learning environment.

 

We are also privileged to bring you exclusive insights from a stellar lineup of industry trailblazers in this edition, including:

  • Robin Glover-Faure, Chief Customer Officer of Acron Aviation
  • Karim Makhlouf, CCO of Royal Jordanian Airlines
  • Pallavi Joshi & Vimal Priya, the leadership powerhouse behind AirFleet Managers &Aviatrics Global
  • Wg. Cdr. Prem Kumar Garg (Retd.), CEO of IndiaOne Air

Each shares a detailed perspective on driving innovation, navigating current market dynamics, and establishing progressive frontiers within their respective sectors.

 

Beyond these highlights, this issue is packed with curated features and analytical pieces designed to keep you informed and inspired.

 

Finally, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to our esteemed advertisers and partners. Your unwavering support empowers us in our ongoing endeavor to make Aviation World a truly world-class publication with global reach and recognition.

 

Happy Reading!

 

The Editorial Team

 

Aviation World

NEWSLETTER

Aviation World Magazine is India’s premier aviation magazine and has been actively supporting the development of the Indian and global civil aviation sector. We started our journey in year 2015 and its been 12 years now and the response and acceptance is really encouraging. Thanks to all our associates and writers who remained with us in our progressive journey.

We have started 2026 on a very positive note and we look forward to increase our footprints to more locations and induct many more new companies in our campaign.. Do write to us at : editor@aviationworld.in

Disclaimer

The contents published in this website are news covering Aviation, Aerospace and Defence sector. The objective is to provide news in informative form to keep our readers updated of the latest development. We also publish content featured in our print publication Aviation World.We try our best to avoid any factual errors or image displayed here but we ensure immediate corrections to any such thing brought to our notice that might have been published inadvertently. All images and contents are sourced from the relevant organisations media team.

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