Safety, Ops & Regulation

France’s Zodiac Aerospace has struck a deal to acquire US cabin and aircraft modification specialist Northwest Aerospace Technologies (NAT).

Turbopower LLC selected Quantum Control to manage its MRO and part sales services. FL Technics has signed a letter of intent with Ariana Afghan Airlines for a long-term strategic cooperation with the intent to establish EASA-compliant line maintenance stations in Afghanistan. The first is slated to open at Kabul International Airport in March 2013.

Unions representing Iberia’s cabin crew and ground staff have canceled their December strike action, although the dispute remains unresolved.

A new working group to quash the illegal charter market in the Middle East sprang from a session at the Middle East Business Aviation Conference yesterday.

ABS Jets (stand 386) is highlighting its operation control centre (OCC) services at MEBA and encouraging smaller companies and operators to come and take a look at the resources and services it offers.

Malta-based MCM Group (stand 540C), a maintenance, training, consultancy provider, and continuing airworthiness management organisation (CAMO), is making its debut at MEBA 2012, as part of the Malta Aviation stand.

MakeMyTrip acquires majority stake in Thai hotel aggregator S&P revises Sabre outlook to ‘stable’ WestJet plans premium economy section, fare bundles J.D. Powers: Price is key in customer satisfaction with travel sites Germanwings to launch new branding, a la carte pricing Maxymizer and Monetate: Two approaches to ‘personalization’ World news briefing

The year 2012 was marked by moves to push airline distribution in a new direction, away from “commoditization” and toward a new model that is not simply tied to the selling of seats. At first glance, the settlement of American Airlines’ antitrust lawsuit against Sabre, approved by American’s bankruptcy court on Nov. 28, appears to maintain the status quo, but it frees American from a previous agreement with Sabre that limited its ability to openly market its Direct Connect product.

Three European airline associations have called on the European Parliament to increase competition in the ground handling market.

About 1,000 of 15,000 German airport security workers on Monday took part in token strikes, disrupting flights at nine airports in Germany.

American International Group (AIG) has agreed to sell 80.1% of International Lease Finance Corp. (ILFC) to a consortium of Chinese investors for $4.23 billion in cash.

Swiss-AS was selected by Pegasus Airlines to provide and implement its maintenance and engineering software AMOS. When fully implemented, all maintenance processes for the carrier will be managed electronically.

European Union (EU) airport traffic has followed freight traffic into a recession, Airports Council International (ACI) Europe said.

American Airlines pilots on Friday voted to ratify a new union contract.

IATA said global airline passengers carried annually will rise 28.6% over the 2.8 billion flown in 2011 to 3.6 billion by 2016.

Oneworld is eyeing new Asian members as it waits to hear TAM Airlines’ alliance decision and looks to integrate Malaysia Airlines, Sri Lankan Airlines and Qatar Airways.

The state of California has filed a lawsuit against Delta Air Lines, alleging the airline is in noncompliance with state laws regarding online privacy.

The Chinese government has reduced domestic jet fuel prices by 4.23% to CNY7,436 ($1,184) per ton as international fuel prices fluctuate.

US aerospace sales are expected to rise 3.4% year-over-year to $217.9 billion for 2012 and increase another 2.6% in 2013 to $223.6 billion.

The European Commission (EC) has strongly criticized member states for failing to meet the Dec. 4 deadline to ensure the nine European Functional Airspace Blocks (FABs) are fully operational.

Qantas has scrapped plans to offer Wi-Fi onboard its Airbus A380s following average customer take-up of less than 5% during a nine-month trial.

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has certified ATR’s Singapore flight training center in the Seletar Aerospace Park.

Ethiopian Airlines, which is now operating four Boeing 787s, remains on track for aggressive growth over the next several years.

[CORRECTED] A United Airlines Boeing 787 flight from Houston to Newark diverted to New Orleans Tuesday morning when one of its six electric generators failed.

Airbus parent EADS unveiled an agreement to make “a far-reaching change” in the way the company’s shareholding is structured.