The UK government has banned large personal devices in the cabin on flights from six Middle East and North African countries, under restrictions that apply to all operators on those routes.
DEVELOPING NEWS: The UK government is expected to make an announcement later on March 21, limiting the carriage of personal electronic devices just hours after a similar sudden move by US authorities.
Australian turboprop operator Regional Express Holdings (Rex) has grounded six of its Saab 340s for checks, in response to the loss of an aircraft’s propeller while inflight.
Reunion-based Air Austral has been selected as Air Madagascar’s preferred strategic partner over a rival short-listed bid from Star Alliance carrier Ethiopian Airlines.
An Antonov AN26 passenger aircraft, operated by South Sudanese carrier South Supreme Airlines, has reportedly crashed and been destroyed by fire with no fatalities.
Etihad Airways, Emirates Airline, Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines are among the carriers affected by a US government emergency order that bans passengers from keeping their personal electronic devices in their carry-on bags on flights to the US.
A statement posted on Royal Jordanian Airlines’ Twitter feed Monday prompted speculation that the US was about to issue a new set of security rules banning airlines flying between the US and certain Middle Eastern and African countries from allowing passengers to bring onboard electric devices, including computers, in their carry-on.
US airlines are “concerned” about potential Transportation Security Administration (TSA) funding decreases, and oppose any increase to the airline passenger security fee to fill agency budget gaps, an Airlines for America (A4A) official said.
India’s civil aviation minister P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju broke ground for the Airbus India Training Center, accompanied by Airbus CEO Tom Enders, on March 17.
China’s Sichuan Airlines is applying to the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) to open two international routes from Chengdu to Shenzhen-New York (twice-weekly), and Zhengzhou-Los Angeles (3X-weekly) in October.
Alitalia CEO Cramer Ball has confirmed that 2,000 jobs are to be cut, representing 51% of the airline’s office staff and 20% of nonflying operational roles, under a recently announced restructuring strategy.
Russia’s Orenburg Airport Airlines, operating under the Orenburzhye brand, will expand domestic services from Samara Kurumoch International Airport for the IATA 2017 summer season.
European travelers have been hit by yet another wave of strike action, as Italy’s air traffic controllers and air transport workers, as well as Air France’s cabin crew, stage separate protests.
US airlines carried a record 823 million passengers systemwide in 2016, up 3.1% from the previous record high of 798.2 million recorded in 2015, according to US Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) released March 16.
