- Solid Passenger Traffic Growth and Moderate Air Cargo Demand in 2018[Dec. 31, 2018]
Preliminary figures released today by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) show a total of 4.3 billion passengers were carried by air transport on scheduled services in 2018. This indicates a 6.1 per cent increase over 2017. The number of departures rose to approximately 38 million globally, and world passenger traffic, expressed in terms of total scheduled revenue passenger-kilometres (RPKs), grew solidly at 6.7 per cent and reached approximately 8.2 trillion RPKs performed. This growth is a slowdown from the 7.9 per cent achieved in 2017.
- Trump Asked to Block Air Italy on Irrational Grounds[Dec. 26, 2018]
Eleven US Senators (led by Senator Ted Cruz) have written to President Trump's administration criticising Italian airline, Air Italy -- specifically citing urgent need for action in relation to Air Italy's routes to both New York and Miami.
- Government Shutdown Furloughs Nearly 18,000 FAA Workers[Dec. 26, 2018]
Nearly 18,000 FAA workers involved in activities such as airmen certificate issuance and NextGen development are furloughed as a result of the partial federal government shutdown took effect on December 22. This marks the third time this year the government has shut down as Congress and the White House reached stalemates over various issues, this time border-wall funding.
- Pilots Should Go Undergo 'Tiredness Test' Before Flights to Stop Them Falling Asleep in the Cockpit, Union Says[Dec. 24, 2018]
Pilots should be made to undergo 'tiredness tests' before they fly to help stop them from falling asleep in the cockpit, MPs have been told.
- TSA Planning Major Shift in Air Marshal Operations[Dec. 23, 2018]
Federal air marshals are being moved to the back of the plane -- some of them, at least.
- IATA Urges Action on Rogue Drones' after Gatwick Chaos[Dec. 21, 2018]
Global airline body IATA called on Thursday for steps to reduce the risk of rogue drone operations including a registry of higher caliber drones, bigger fines, and jail sentences after flights were grounded at London's Gatwick airport.
- EU Close to Agreeing Air Traffic Deals with Qatar, ASEAN: Sources[Dec. 20, 2018]
The European Union is close to striking air traffic agreements with Qatar and a group of countries in southeast Asia, two people familiar with the matter told Reuters.
- Virgin Australia Airlines under Investigation After Plane's Engines "Flame Out"[Dec. 19, 2018]
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has launched an investigation into Virgin Australia Airline over a "serious" incident at Canberra airport, local media reported on Wednesday.
- U.S. Airlines Bristle at Expansion of Qatar-Backed Italian Airline[Dec. 18, 2018]
An Italian airline is now caught in the middle of a simmering dispute over government subsidies between the largest U.S. airlines and state-owned Qatar Airways.
- SpiceJet Likely to Join Jet Airways, Air India, Jet Lite, Vistara at IATA[Dec. 17, 2018]
Low-cost carrier SpiceJet is likely to join the global airlines' grouping the International Air Transport Association (IATA) as a member.