Air Transport

Passengers on all Emirates Airline flights to the U.S. will have the option to board using biometric checks by the end of 2019.

The Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China (COMAC) forecasts a Chinese market for 6,119 aircraft of approximately 120 to 200 seats over the coming 20 years.

Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) has secured a contract from an undisclosed “world-class financial institution” to source and manage a $1.4 billion aircraft portfolio, which will double the value of its managed fleet to over $2.7 billion.

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) is in discussions with Central and European ULCC Wizz Air on plans to use longer-range Airbus aircraft to connect airports in western and northern India.

The Scandinavian arm of failed leisure carrier Thomas Cook Airlines resumed flight operations Sept. 24, a day after parent company Thomas Cook Group filed for bankruptcy and triggered a huge repatriation effort to return passengers home.

The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) has substantiated a whistleblower complaint alleging that FAA safety inspectors who served on the Boeing 737 MAX Flight Standardization Board (FSB) were not properly credentialed.

Cash-strapped Slovenian carrier Adria Airways ceased the majority of its flights for two days as of 11:30 p.m. local time Sept. 23, citing liquidity problems.

Icelandair has reached an interim compensation agreement with Boeing to cover losses incurred by the Boeing 737 MAX grounding, which has already had a $140 million impact on the airline’s EBIT.

The head of IATA called on world governments to implement a single standard for carbon emissions, warning of a “real risk” that the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) will be undermined by an emerging patchwork of carbon taxes and regulations.

A French commercial court is considering the two remaining offers for all or part of French airline Aigle Azur’s assets after UK LCC easyJet dropped out of the running as a liquidation deadline looms.

German leisure carrier Condor is in talks with a private equity firm about a possible takeover, according to industry sources.

Thales and the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) have signed an agreement to establish a Joint Aviation Innovation Research (AIR) laboratory in Singapore.

Hawaiian Airlines has launched its new fare product—main cabin basic—on a handful of its routes to the U.S. mainland.

The aviation industry, alongside environmental groups, will request governments to set a timeframe for agreement on a long-term target to reduce CO2 emissions from air transport at a meeting of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) starting this week in Montreal.

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Airbus has mostly ignored the new-built cargo aircraft market and instead slowly entered the conversion market, with rival Boeing in a much stronger position.

Some operators of Engine Alliance GP7000-series powered Airbus A380s face more stringent engine fan hub assembly inspections after examination of the hub that separated during an uncontained failure two years ago pointed to higher risk of cracks.

Hawaiian Airlines sees potential to grow its already strong presence in the Japanese market by expanding its own flights and through its proposed joint venture with Japan Airlines (JAL).

German leisure carrier Condor is urgently seeking bridge financing and a new investor after its parent company, Thomas Cook Group, filed for bankruptcy Sept. 22.

Slovenian carrier Adria Airways has had two Bombardier CRJ900s recalled by their lessor and is “intensively looking for solutions” to stabilize operations.

The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has wet-leased aircraft from operators around the world to support a massive repatriation of Thomas Cook Airlines passengers stranded by the compulsory liquidation of UK leisure operator Thomas Cook.

Air India has ambitious fleet growth plans, but must wait for its privatization process to play out so any potential new owners can review the airline’s strategy, according to a senior executive.

Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) expects the impact of the recent civil unrest on its traffic to ease, with a smaller passenger decline in September and the potential for a significant rebound in 2020 results.

The CEO of insolvent French airline XL Airways has appealed to Air France to save the carrier, saying it could boost the group’s long-haul LCC offerings.