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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Maintenance and Modifications
Contracts To Grow Embraer's Macon Mx Facility
Two contracts with Envoy Air and JSX call for the addition of three heavy maintenance lines at Embraer Aircraft Maintenance Services in Macon, Georgia.
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.
Airlines
Ukraine Crisis and Engine Overhaul Delays Challenge AirBaltic
AirBaltic has shifted its business model in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, while also dealing with delays in maintaining engines for its A220s.
Aircraft
Pratt & Whitney Runs First Hybrid-Electric Engine Ground Test
Pratt & Whitney, along with sister company Collins, prepare for flight testing of the first hybrid-electric propulsion system on a Dash 8 aircraft in 2024.
Aircraft
Appropriations Deal Eases Boeing's Max Cert Burden
An amendment to the U.S. Congress's Appropriations Bill does away with a requirement for a crew alerting system upgrade for the Max 7 and Max 10 airliners.
Airlines
Aviation Climate Taskforce Will Fund Decarbonization Projects
Ten major airlines are backing a not-for-profit group deploying funds to accelerate research and development projects aimed at cutting carbon emissions.
Aircraft
Mesa Switches Regional Alliance From American to United
Mesa Airlines is ending its 30-year partnership with American Airlines and will redeploy its CRJ-900 fleet to fly regional routes for United Express.
Engines
Fadec Alliance Tapped for Sustainable Engine Program
The Fadec Alliance joint venture will develop engine controls for the CFM International RISE turbine engine demonstrator program.
EASA Publishes Cabin Crew Training Guidelines
EASA is hoping to harmonize the varied cabin crew training requirements in Europe through its latest guidance.
Aircraft
Air New Zealand Signals Next Steps To Decarbonize Fleet
The carrier plans to acquire up to 23 electric or hybrid-electric aircraft and is now working with four manufacturers to replace turboprop commuters.
