Saudi Arabian Airlines Fined

Saudi Arabian Airlines has been fined some 1.4 million euros by a regional Belgian government for breaching EU carbon emissions rules, making it the first big non-EU carrier to be fined for breaking the EU aviation law.

The European Union requirement that all aircraft using its airports pay for carbon emissions caused international outcry when it was introduced at the start of 2012.

Air Malta in Talks With Turkish Airlines

Air Malta is currently in negotiations with Turkish Airlines – the fourth largest carrier in the world – regarding a strategic alliance and cash injection. 

Company sources at Air Malta have told local media that discussions are held on a regular basis with a number of airlines over alliances of some degree, however with Turkish these discussions are also including talks about a cash injection or a total buyout of the small and financially strapped Maltese airline. 

Premium Economy For Singapore Airlines

Singapore Airlines will officially launch its new premium economy seats this Thursday, 21st
 May, with Sydney being the first destination.

Flights to London, Hong Kong, Frankfurt and Paris will follow as the airline moves to rapidly fit the new seats across its flagship fleet of Airbus A380 and Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.

The leather-clad seats, created exclusively for Singapore Airlines by JPA Design, will be 19.5 inches wide with a pitch of 38 inches, compared to a 19 inch width and tighter 32 inch pitch in standard economy cabin.  In addition to a greater recline, padded legrest and more in-seat storage space, passengers will also be treated to champagne and meals from Singapore Airlines' 'Book the Cook' service.

United Hacker Controls Flight.

Worrying news breaking from the United States of America regarding in flight safety of aircraft after a cyber security hacker's claim hit the headlines that he managed to control an aircraft mid-flight through its in-flight entertainment system.

According to media reports, the FBI warrant says researcher / hacker Chris Roberts took control of a United Airlines flight briefly and caused the aircraft to fly sideways for a short time.  It is not exactly clear when the incident took place however Roberts was detained by the FBI in April after he posted this tweet claiming he had hacked into the control systems of a United Airlines flight on which he was a passenger.

Busy Summer Ahead

According to figures released this week from Airlines for America, this summer is looking set to be one of the busiest on record with an estimated 222 million travelers are expected to fly from 1st June to 31st Aug. That would be an amazing  4.5% growth from last year, the average number of 2.4 million travelers per day would include 332,000 on international flights, which the group said would also be a record.

"With 13 of the 15 busiest air travel days of the year falling in the summer months, U.S. airlines are well-prepared to accommodate the increased travel demand by adding flights and seats, and deploying new and larger aircraft, along with a boost in staffing to enhance the customer experience," said John Heimlich, chief economist for Airlines for America. Healthy air-travel demand and lower, yet still volatile, fuel prices are helping U.S. airlines close the gap to average U.S. corporate profitability,"

Bristol Airport Sussess

Passenger numbers soared to move than 500,000 last month, a new record for the South West Airport. Its the 13th consecutive month of growth at the regional airport and future growth is promised with new routes and a new winter schedule being planned.

BMI Regional saw traffic their passenger numbers increase with the launch of two new services to Paris and Düsseldorf. Other airlines including Brussels Airlines, EasyJet, Ryanair and Thomas Cook also recorded growth from Bristol.

New destinations for the summer include Bilbao, lsle of Man, Porto, Gibraltar, Catania, Cape Verde, Paphos and Hurghada.  Wizz Air is all set to make its Bristol debut in June with twice weekly flights to Katowice in Poland.

The airport management confirm a terminal extension is on schedule to open in July of this year that will increase services to passengers. Airport chief executive, Robert Sinclair, said: “Growth in passenger numbers supports investment in facilities such as the eastern terminal extension which will create additional space and seating, as well as a wider choice of shops and restaurants. It also demonstrates to airlines the strength of the market for air travel in the south-west as we work to attract exciting new routes to add to the 100-plus already on offer from Bristol.”

EasyJet Crew Injured in Turbulence.

Two flight crew were injured as turbulence hit an easyJet aircraft as it prepared to land in Milan. One of the cabin crew suffered a broken ankle and the other severe bruising, an air accident report revealed. They were both take to an Italian hospital after medical staff were called to meet the aircraft. None of the 137 passengers was injured on board the Airbus A320 flight from Gatwick on January 30, according to the report from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch.

The All New Gulf - American War

The all new Gulf - American war of words between the big three American carriers and the three big Gulf airlines is heating up to such an extreme that trade sanctions are currently being considered.

Etihad Airways hit back yesterday at the big three US carriers seeking to restrict Gulf airlines from competing on ‘open skies’ routes to North America.  The United Arab Emirates based airline outlined a range of government and court-sanctioned benefits and concessions received by Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and American Airlines Group, and other carriers with which they have merged.

All told the benefits are worth $71.48 billion with over $70 billion coming since 2000, which has enabled the three largest carriers in the US to go from the verge of bankruptcy to industry leaders, each achieving multi-billion dollar profits.

Delta, American and United generated collective net profits of $8.97 billion last year, equivalent to 45% of the total $19.9 billion profits achieved in 2014 by the global airline industry. 2015 seems to show no sign of change as all three reported large net profits for the first quarter of the year.

New Route to Miami for Turkish

Turkish Airlines will launch a new service to Miami from Istanbul on 25th October and will be the first direct service between the two cities since September of 2001. For the flights starting in October, the airline will use a Boeing 777-300ER with capacity for 337 passengers. Flights will arrive in Miami at 8:30 p.m. and leave for Istanbul at 10:30 p.m. daily.

Istanbul Ataturk Airport is ranked 13th in the world for total passenger traffic with 56.8 million passengers in 2014 and Turkish Airlines plans to increase its route to 273 destinations by the end of the year.

Turkish Airlines first started flying the Miami-Istanbul route in June of 1999, but stopped the service in September of 2001. An airport spokesman said the airline had limited resources at the time, and the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks forced air carriers all over the globe to cut back.

United Sued Over TV

A New Jersey woman is suing United airlines for $5 million - because her in-flight TV wasn't working properly!

Cary David has issued a legal claim against United Airlines after paying for four hours of television yet only receiving a signal for the last 10 minutes of her journey.  In the lawsuit she says the airline failed to “disclose that the services will not work as advertised when the aircraft is outside the continental United States or is over water.”

More Turbulence for Malaysia Airlines

There is hope for troubled Malaysia Airlines according top the new chief executive of airline, 

who said its financial situation is more challenging than anticipated and it will shrink in size as it tries to overcome a tarnished image with the industry and the public.

The Malaysian carrier has been hit hard recently, shocked by two disasters  - the first being the missing aircraft that just seems to have vanished on 8th March with 239 people on board. Then just four months later,the horrific shooting down of another aircraft over Ukraine by Russian agents claimed the lives of 298 people.

In a memo, Mr Christoph Mueller thanked Malaysia Airlines staff for a warm welcome but also noted parts of the organisation seemed "depressed" and customers were saying service is deteriorating. "Since the new airline will be smaller in size, we simply have not enough work for all of you," Mr Mueller said and plans to reduce the work-force by around 6000 people.  Mr Mueller advised they will soon send out termination letters as well as new job offers to those who will remain in the airline. 

Swiss to Fly CS100 First

Aircraft manufacturer Bombardier has confirmed that Swiss International Air Lines will be the first airline to fly the new CSeries twinjet, when the airline takes delivery of its first jet during the first half of 2016.

Bombardier says they are on schedule for certification of the CS100 to be completed towards the close of this year. However we wont have long to wait to view the new aircraft as Bombardier are planning on exhibiting the plane at Paris Air Show in June. 

The Lufthansa Group, which owns Swiss has ordered 30 CSeries aircraft “We are looking forward to being both the launch customer and the first airline that will operate the CS100.”  says Swiss chief executive Harry Hohmeister, confirming the aircraft is“very much in line with our performance expectations”,

Airline pilots 'buckling under unacceptable pressures'

he strain put on airline pilots has been in the spotlight since the co-pilot of a Germanwings flight crashed his plane into the French Alps in March.

French investigators say it was intentional and that Andreas Lubitz had practised a rapid decent on a previous flight. There have also been repeated questions about his mental state.

Meanwhile, the European Commission has announced it is setting up a taskforce of experts to review aviation safety regulation, including pilot health checks, following the crash.

So how much pressure are pilots under?

John (not his real name) found himself exhausted after 36 years in the industry.

He told the BBC: "I just found it impossible to go to work. I felt very close to tears, as I had done on various occasions at the end of shifts, without really understanding what was happening.

"I just couldn't really function on any level."

Read more here

Rescue for Air Zimbabwe

Troubled airline Air Zimbabwe will hold talks with several potential strategic partners after government agreed to take over its toxic $298 million debt.

The talks will be completed during the third quarter of this year, according to Zimbabwe's Transport Minister, Obert Mpofu “We have some interest from some reputable airlines which have shown keenness to partner Air Zimbabwe, especially when we clean up our balance sheet, which has been of great concern to potential investors.  - Government has undertaken to warehouse that debt and let the new arrangement start on a clean slate.”

Drunk Scot Diverts Thomas Cook Plane

A Thomas Cook flight from Scotland to Turkey was diverted to London Gatwick yesterday after a disturbance on board.

The flight from Glasgow to Dalaman was forced to divert after the pilot called police due to drunken passengers.  Passengers on the flight said they saw police officers board the flight when it landed at Gatwick early on Wednesday morning and arrested a man.

A spokesman for Sussex Police said: "At 11.45am on Wednesday police went to a Thomas Cook flight which had just been diverted into Gatwick Airport on a flight from Glasgow Airport to Turkey. Officers arrested a man who was a passenger, on suspicion of being drunk on an aircraft. There are no reports of injuries or damage. The man is currently in custody for interview and further enquirers.