Shanghai, China | AFP | China Southern Airlines said Tuesday it would sell almost a one-tenth stake to American Airlines in a $200 million tie-up that could see two of the world’s biggest carriers cooperate in a range of areas. American Airlines is the world’s largest carrier by scheduled passengers carried, …
Read More »The leggings Twitter storm
Washington, United States | AFP | United Airlines has run into a social media storm after it barred two teenage girls from boarding a flight in Denver because they were wearing leggings. Another girl who was also wearing leggings was allowed to board the flight from Denver International Airport to …
Read More »UK issues laptop, tablet flight ban after US warning
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Britain tightened airline security on flights from Turkey, the Middle East and North Africa on Tuesday, banning laptops and tablet computers from the plane cabin following a US security warning. Passengers flying directly to Britain from Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and Turkey …
Read More »Nigerian airline lays off two-thirds of staff to cut costs
Lagos, Nigeria | AFP | Nigeria’s second largest airline Aero Contractors has laid off two-thirds of its workforce to save costs and prevent it from going under, a government agency official confirmed on Friday. The company said in a letter to employees on Thursday that it was “constrained to place (them) …
Read More »China’s first stealth fighter J-20 enters service
Beijing, China | AFP | China has put its first stealth fighter into military service, state-run media reported on Friday, in the latest milestone highlighting the modernisation of the country’s armed forces. Swift, stealthy, and armed with long-range missiles, the J-20 represents a leap forward in China’s ability to project power …
Read More »On collision course? Working out rules for drones
Paris, France | AFP | As drones increasingly crowd the skies, the risk of collision with other aircraft has come to the fore. Here’s an overview of international regulation aimed at limiting the dangers. – How many incidents? – The International Air Transport Association (IATA), which sets global standards for …
Read More »Canada: Airlines must ensure pilots sober in cockpit
Ottawa, Canada | AFP | Canada on Friday called on domestic airlines to ensure that pilots show up for work sober, following recent arrests for drunkenness in cockpits. “As a commercial air carrier authorized to carry passengers in Canada, you have an obligation to ensure that flight crew members are …
Read More »World’s longest flight lands in New Zealand
Wellington, New Zealand | AFP | The world’s longest commercial flight landed in New Zealand Monday with the arrival of Qatar Airways’s 14,535 kilometres (9,032 miles) Doha-Auckland service, the airline announced. “We’ve officially landed in Auckland,” the airline tweeted as flight QR920 landed at 7.25am (1825 GMT Sunday), five minutes …
Read More »India’s booming passenger airline industry: the facts
New Delhi, India | AFP | India has the world’s fastest growing passenger airline industry, expanding at an annual rate of around 20 percent. Here are some facts and figures: – How many Indians fly – Nearly 90 million people in the financial year that ended in March 31 2016, …
Read More »MH370 plane search to end in two weeks
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | AFP | The hunt for missing flight MH370 will end in two weeks, Malaysia’s transport minister said on Friday, as relatives of passengers demanded authorities push on with the search. “We’re at the final lap within these two weeks,” the minister, Liow Tiong Lai told reporters. …
Read More »