A tentative deal on liberalizing transatlantic aviation could collapse if the US Congress or the courts intervene to stop a Bush administration plan to ease limits on foreign investment in US airlines, a senior government official said on Wednesday.

The US Transportation Security Administration on Friday announced several parameters for a nationwide smart-card-based Registered Traveler program to be run by the private sector.In a statement, TSA said it could approve qualified RT programs "by June of this year." But the agency apparently is leaving it in the hands of airports and private companies to invest "in approved screening equipment, fund additional screeners and/or obtain space for separate RT screening" in order to provide participants in the program with a speedier trip through security lines.

The Deputy Director of the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China, Yang Guoqing met the president of Lufthansa Group, Wolfgang Mayrhuber and other delegates on Jan 13th this year. Both sides have discussed the matters including the further promotion of aviation transportation relationship between China and German, the request in relation to Jade Cargo International's air traffic rights, and the possibility to further strengthen the technical exchange and training cooperation between Lufthansa and CAAC.(Translation: CARNOC - Mengping Tao)

FAA yesterday said it has saved $1.4 million in overtime expenses and achieved a 75% reduction in operational errors at the troubled New York Terminal Radar Approach Control facility since reasserting authority over scheduling practices and taking a more hands-on management approach there (ATWOnline, June 3, 2005).

US FAA last week proposed to fine Alaska Airlines $500,000 for flying a 737 without required cabin floor lighting on 478 revenue flights between July 12 and Dec. 2, 2004.

US regulators proposed a USD$500,000 fine against Alaska Airlines on Friday for allegedly operating a passenger jet on 478 flights without proper lighting to identify emergency exits.

Nigeria will clear a thick forest and stagnant ponds at Lagos Airport as part of urgent reforms to the aviation sector after two plane crashes that killed more than 200 people, the airports authority said on Sunday.

National Air Traffic Services said it handled a record 2.3 million flights through British airspace in 2005, a rise of 5.7% over the previous year and the highest annual growth since 1999.An increase in service by low-cost carriers to Eastern Europe contributed to the record, with flights to the region jumping 36.5% over the 12 months. Traffic to the Middle East, Asia and Africa also showed significant growth, rising 12.9%. However, the strong gains in domestic traffic seen all year slowed considerably after the start of the winter schedule, from a peak increase of 9.5% in May to 0.4% in December. Transatlantic overflights remained below 2000 levels.

Indonesia wants to inject funds into state-owned airline Garuda Indonesia and may also sell a stake, Transport Minister Hatta Radjasa said on Thursday.

US airlines reported an ontime arrival rate of 80% in November, an improvement over the 79.1% achieved in November 2004 but a drop from October's rate of 81.3%, according to the "Air Travel Consumer Report" released yesterday by the US Dept. of Transportation.