Air Transport
News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.
Aircraft
Embraer Confirms Launch Delay for Proposed Turboprop
Talks between Embraer and potential suppliers for a new turboprop have advanced more slowly than expected.
Airlines
Somalian Airspace To Become Class A, Restoring ATC Services
The installation of modern navigation aids ends a 30-year interruption of full air traffic control operations over Somalia and the surrounding region.
Accidents
NTSB Finds More Problems with Final Report on ET Max Crash
Ethiopian authorities say an electrical problem caused the Max 8’s left AOA sensor to fail, an assertion disputed by the NTSB.
Aircraft
Asean Carriers Prepare for Post-pandemic Rebound
2023 is already seeing airlines in the Association of Southeast Asia Nations restore service, expand fleets, and enhance air connectivity in the region.
Accidents
Boeing To Face Criminal Charges Related to Max Crashes
A Texas federal judge has ruled that Boeing must appear in court on January 26 for arraignment on criminal charges over two fatal 737 Max accidents.
Airlines
Aviation Industry Applauds Delay of EU Biometric Border Checks
The EU has postponed the implementation of the Entry Exit System—the smart border system for non-EU nationals entering the bloc—beyond May.
Aircraft
ZeroAvia Achieves First Flight with Hydrogen-powered Airliner
ZeroAvia's hydrogen-powered Dornier 228 flew for the first time on Thursday.
Aircraft
Ryanair’s Renewed Max 10 Talks with Boeing ‘Going Nowhere’
Europe’s largest low-cost carrier seeks Boeing 737 Max 10s to build the capacity it needs to annually fly 225 million passengers by March 2026.
Airlines
Lufthansa Offers To Buy Stake in Italy’s ITA Airways
Lufthansa has eyed participation in ITA and its predecessor Alitalia for years, and now appears to stand as the only interested party in the flag carrier.
Environment
NASA, Boeing To Fly Truss-braced-wing Demonstrator in 2028
The Sustainable Flight Demonstrator partnership between Boeing and NASA aims to cut fuel burn in narrowbody aircraft by 30 percent.
Airlines
TUI Trains Eye on Transition to Boeing 737 Max and 787 Fleets
The Europe-wide fleet harmonization is part of a wider move to integrate the group’s five airlines in a “virtual” airline.
Aircraft
Avolon Sees Airline Traffic Reaching 2019 Levels by June
Asia will lead a traffic recovery this year as China reenters the market, according to Avolon.
Accidents
Nepal Recovers Flight Recorders Following Fatal ATR 72 Crash
Search and rescue personnel in Nepal’s Kaski district recovered the flight data and cockpit voice recorders of Yeti Airlines Flight YT691 on January 16.
Airlines
FAA Attributes Failure of Notam IT System to Human Error
IT personnel failed to follow procedure while working on the computer system that generates Notams, according to the FAA.
Airports
Airbus Tests Autonomous Flight Diversions, Taxiway Support
The aircraft maker's DragonFly technology could enable automated diversions in response to medical emergencies and improve safety at busy airports.
Airlines
FAA Blames Damaged Database File for Notam System Outage
Investigations into the latest air transport system meltdown in the U.S. begin as traffic flows return to normal after a software glitch grounds flights.
ATC
FAA Lifts Grounding Order Following U.S. Notam Outage
Normal airline operations resumed at about 9 a.m. after a failure of the U.S. notam system forced the cancellation of some 850 flights.
Safety
FAA Revises 5G AD Based on New Information
In its analysis of 5G cellphone network interference, the FAA found about 100 incidents where aircraft avionics were affected.
Aircraft
Airbus Falls Short of 2022 Delivery Target, Blames Supply Chain
Although supply chain constraints suppressed deliveries, both Airbus and Boeing registered strong sales campaigns last year.
Aircraft
Comac Readies C919 for Spring Service Launch
The Comac C919 program has started its second round of cabin crew training as the first production example participates in flight validation trials.
Airlines
EU Countries Join Moves to Re-start Covid Measures for China
European countries agree to a coordinated response to the Covid crisis in China.
Regulations and Government
Russian MRO Set to Make Parts for Western-built Aircraft
No international mechanism exists to prohibit the manufacture of Boeing and Airbus parts by Russia’s A-Technics.
Regulations and Government
Lack of Fuel Supply Halts Air Traffic In Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea’s Air Niugini ceases domestic flights after sole fuel supplier Puma Energy loses access to U.S. currency.
Aircraft
Air Cargo Faces Mixed 2023 in a ‘Cooling’ Market
An increase in freighter deliveries and a further return of belly capacity on passenger aircraft appears likely to cause a considerable capacity inflow.
Accidents
French BEA Concurs with NTSB on Gaps in ET Max Crash Report
France’s BEA joins call for Ethiopian authorities to amend final report on the March 2019 crash of an Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 Max.
Airlines
Eurocontrol Calls 2022 a ‘Bounceback’ Year, Sees 2025 Recovery
Europe saw air traffic increase to 83 percent of 2019 levels at the end of last year.
Aircraft
Hydrogen Demonstrator Flights Set To Start in the New Year
ZeroAvia and Universal Hydrogen plan to fly their respective hydrogen-powered regional airliners early next year.
Accidents
NTSB Cites Major Gaps in Ethiopian Final Report on Max Crash
Final report into the crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 fails to sufficiently consider flight crew performance, according to U.S. authorities.
Airlines
Southwest Airlines Struggles To Normalize Stricken Ops
After a schedule meltdown triggered by winter storms over the Christmas holiday weekend, Southwest Airlines slashed two-thirds of its flights.
Aircraft
Textron Announces First Airline Order for SkyCourier
Mexico's startup regional airline Aerus has placed an order for two Cessna 408 SkyCourier and four Cessna Grand Caravan EX turboprop singles.
