Construction of a second main runway at Dublin Airport was approved by the Fingal County Council Planning Dept. earlier this week.Dublin Airport Authority welcomed the decision, calling the runway "a vital component of the overall future development plans to enable the airport to handle in excess of 30 million passengers per annum."

Canada's air navigation services provider, NAV Canada, said it will reduce the weight factor used in calculating its terminal services charge from 0.9 to 0.85 beginning May 1.Although the change is revenue neutral for the ANSP, the charge for heavier aircraft will decline while smaller aircraft experience an increase. NAV Canada noted that its terminal fee for larger aircraft currently is among the highest charged by any ANSP while the charge for smaller aircraft is among the lowest. The result of the change "will be a more equitable balance...and a methodology more in line with international practice."

Star Alliance is working on collective specifications for the 787, Air New Zealand CEO Rob Fyfe told ATWOnline during the group's meeting in Johannesburg earlier this week. The alliance has a working group including member airlines Lufthansa, ANA, Singapore Airlines, ANZ, Air Canada and LOT Polish Airlines negotiating with Boeing on a wide spectrum of specifications ranging from cockpit configuration through galley configuration and seat pitch.

As expected, Australia's Qantas Group moved to rationalize its various airline brands, with leisure operator Australian Airlines being absorbed into the mainline from July and Jetstar International, the overseas arm of Qantas domestic LCC Jetstar, launching operations in November. CEO Geoff Dixon told media that "Australian Airlines has done an outstanding job over the past few years, but we are determined to take full advantage of Jetstar's success with its highly competitive cost structure and service standards." Australian was launched four years ago, but the twin Bali bombings and 2004 tsunami have taken a toll on passenger numbers. Australian's cost base is 30% below that of Qantas, but Jetstar International's costs will be 45% lower yet, according to analysts.

Qantas Airways is scrapping its Australian Airlines brand in favour of low cost domestic carrier Jetstar, which is gearing up to fly international routes later this year.

The factions within Airbus that are pushing for a redesign of the A350 gained another ally in Singapore Airlines CEO Chew Choon Seng.

Regional airline Rex has decided to abandon Adelaide's new $260 million terminal in yet another blow to the airport's operators, by moving its inbound flights and operations to the unused former international terminal by the end of the month.

Boeing holds a healthy lead over Airbus in terms of new orders for March and the first quarter of 2006, while Airbus delivered more aircraft in the quarter.Airbus booked orders for 19 aircraft in March comprising three A320 family aircraft, four A330s, three 340-300s and nine A350-900s. Finnair was responsible for the majority of the sales, including the A350s and A340s. In March 2005, Airbus booked orders for 80 aircraft of which all but two were narrowbodies.

EasyJet is on the warpath again over Public Service Obligation routes, this time in Italy.The London Luton-based LCC confirmed yesterday that it lodged a formal appeal with the regional administrative court in Rome against the Italian Transport Ministry and Civil Aviation Authority over the right to operate service on the Milan Malpensa-Olbia, Sardinia, route.

Air Europa of Spain converted purchase rights for 16 737-800s into firm orders in a deal worth approximately $1 billion at list prices.Deliveries are scheduled between 2010 and 2014. The carrier will use the new aircraft on domestic routes, including to the Balearic and Canary islands, as well as on European and North African routes.