- Three Strikes and Q400s Are Out at SAS[Oct. 30, 2007]
Following three incidents involving faulty landing gear on Q400 aircraft, SAS Group decided to remove its 27 turboprops from service permanently owing to safety issues as well as concerns about its image and financial health.
- Japan: Government to Step Up Scrutiny of Foreign Airlines[Oct. 22, 2007]
Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is planning to reinforce its monitoring of foreign airlines serving Japanese airports by creating the post of "safety measures officer" for aircraft of foreign carriers within its Civil Aviation Bureau, ministry sources said on Oct. 21.
- Mobile Phone Not The Cause of Glitch on ANA Plane[Oct. 30, 2007]
The breakdown of the wireless communications system aboard an All Nippon Airways plane earlier this month at Nagasaki airport was not caused by a passenger's mobile phone that had been left on, as initially suggested, but was attributable instead to a broken microphone cable attached to the captain's seat, according to the communications ministry.
- Belgian Pilot Arrested in Chad for Alledged Trafficking of Children[Oct. 28, 2007]
A Belgian pilot has been arrested in Chad for allegedly helping to transport 103 children to Europe for adoption, Belgian broadcaster VRT reported on Oct. 28.
- UK Police Arrest Virgin Pilot on Drink-Related Charges[Oct. 29, 2007]
UK police have arrested a Virgin Atlantic Airways first officer at London Heathrow airport on alcohol-related charges.
- IATA: Dutch Ticket Tax Proposal Ineffective and Inappropriate - Breaches International Obligations[Oct. 15, 2007]
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) condemned the Dutch Government's plans to impose further taxes on air passengers. The government is planning to tax passengers departing the Netherlands by air as much as EUR45 citing environmental reasons.
- IATA Tips Dramatic Growth in Air Travel[Oct. 26, 2007]
About 2.75 billion passengers will take flights in 2011, an increase of 29 per cent on the total passenger traffic in 2006, industry body IATA says.
- Japan to Propose Aircraft CO2 Emission Goals to ICAO[Oct. 29, 2007]
Japan will propose international reduction goals for carbon dioxide emitted by aircraft to the International Civil Aviation Organization by the end of 2008, government officials said on Oct. 28.
- Caribbean Nations Pledge to Work Toward "Umbrella Policy for Air Transport"[Oct. 26, 2007]
Caribbean transport ministers signed the San Juan Accord this week in Puerto Rico, committing to "liberalize air transport services and harmonize aviation safety and security measures" with the ultimate goal of creating "an umbrella policy for air transport" and "a single regional airspace."
- US: Orlando to Dallas Flight Diverted After Woman Tries to Open Plane Door[Oct. 28, 2007]
On Oct. 27, an American Airlines flight from Orlando, Fla., to Dallas-Fort Worth was diverted to Houston after a passenger tried to open an emergency door.