Air Transport World

FAA and the US DOT deserve praise for relatively swift action to require buyers and owners of small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to register their aircraft via an FAA website.

US House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Committee chairman Bill Shuster, who has vowed to spearhead passage of a “transformational” FAA reauthorization bill, wants to boldly reform US air traffic control (ATC).

The world’s airlines are set to post a collective record net profit of $33 billion for 2015 and are forecast to post another record net profit of $36.3 billion in 2016, according to IATA.

For an airline whose primary market is tourism, a military junta and terrorist bombings definitely impact the bottom line. While those events have affected Thai Airways’ financial situation, they are not the main problem.

Aviation has taken climate change to heart, and while critics say the industry is not doing enough and not doing it fast enough, there is evidence that aviation is making significant progress.

Airline Routes-Dec. 24, 2015

Global international passenger traffic increased 4.5% year-over-year (YOY) in October, according to IATA’s October Premium Traffic Monitor.

Baggage fees revenues for US airlines in 3Q 2015 rose 6.2% year-over-year, to $1.02 billion, according to the US Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS).

United Airlines is one step closer to placing an order for new small narrowbody aircraft, after a key union committee voted on Dec. 22 to approve a proposed two-year contract extension.

Discussions between All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Virgin Australia could lead to a new codeshare agreement covering domestic Australian routes.

Canada and Australia are doubling the number of seats airlines can fly per week between the two countries under an expanded air transport agreement, effective immediately, the Canadian government has said.

South Korean low-cost carrier (LCC) Jin Air has begun a new 5X-weekly schedule from Seoul’s Incheon International Airport to Honolulu, Hawaii.

A Kalstar Aviation Embraer E-195 overran the runway at El Tari Airport in Kupang on Dec. 21 and suffered substantial damage, including a landing gear collapse.

Gulf Air’s efforts to restructure are bearing fruit among passengers, the carrier said Dec. 24.

Mitsubishi Aircraft Corp. has announced another major delay to the service introduction of its Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ).

Embraer plans to roll out its first next-generation E-Jet, an E190-E2, on Feb. 25 at its headquarters in São José dos Campos, Brazil.

Aircraft News-Dec. 23, 2015

Silver Airways is hiring advisors at Raymond James to “evaluate a range of strategic alternatives,” including a merger or “ownership transition,” strategic partnerships, or new investments from outside groups.

Rayani Airlines has launched Malaysia’s first sharia-compliant airline using a Boeing 737-400 aircraft.

Spain-based low-cost carrier (LCC) Vueling is to launch three new interline agreements with long-haul carriers Cathay Pacific, Hainan Airlines and Royal Jordanian.

Delta Air Lines’ pilots have returned to labor contract negotiations more than five months after rejecting a tentative agreement.

US Airlines ranked by year-to-date total reservation cancellation/change fee revenue. Data is current as of December 15, 2015.

German flag carrier Lufthansa has taken another swipe at the “Big Three” Gulf carriers, warning that Europe’s civil aviation infrastructure risks being damaged by the Arabian airlines.

US airlines ranked by year-to-date 2015 baggage fees revenue, in US $ thousands. Data is current as of December 15, 2015.

Russia’s Ingosstrakh insurance company has paid out $23 million in the aftermath of the Metrojet Airbus A321-200 crash over Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula on Oct. 31.