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☆ Syria says Israel hits Homs outposts, sources say air bases bombed
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-01 | by ( Suleiman Al-Khalidi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Iranian military personnel alongside fighters from Lebanon's Hezbollah are stationed at both airports and there is a strong presence of pro-Iranian militias in that area of Homs province, the sources said. Syria denies Western and Israeli allegations that Iran, whose top military officials frequently visit Syria, has an extensive military presence in the country. A Syrian military source said on state media that the strikes caused some material damage with five military personnel injured. Israel has intensified strikes in the last year on Syrian airports and air bases to disrupt what it says is Iran's use of aerial supply lines to deliver arms to militias. read moreIran declined to comment on the Western and Israeli accusations.

☆ Airline, banking and rail oversight top U.S. progressives' wish list for Biden
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( Moira Warburton | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Jim VondruskaWASHINGTON, March 30 (Reuters) - Liberal Democrats in the U.S. Congress called on President Joe Biden on Thursday to take executive action to crack down on misconduct in the banking, airline and rail transportation industries. The caucus, made up of 101 U.S. House Democrats and independent Senator Bernie Sanders, has grown in influence in recent years under Representative Pramila Jayapal's leadership. "These are actions that we believe the White House and federal agencies have the authority and the ability to take now," Jayapal told reporters on Thursday. With the House of Representatives narrowly controlled by Republicans and the Senate narrowly controlled by Democrats, progress on legislation is increasingly rare, leading presidents to rely more heavily on executive action. Biden's Democratic administration has taken the caucus's advice on multiple occasions, most notably on canceling student debt through executive action.

☆ US FAA awards Verizon $2.4 bln contract for telecom network infrastructure
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Verizon will design, build and operate the FAA’s new next-generation communications platform. The telecom company said it will "build the FAA a dynamic, highly available and secure enterprise network to support all of the agency's mission critical applications across the National Airspace System." Verizon Business CEO Kyle Malady said the project would help lead the FAA through "a telecommunications infrastructure transformation that utilizes the latest advances in technology and networking solutions." He added the it would provide "dynamic services and bandwidth provisioning, to improved insight and visibility into network service configuration and operation." A 2021 Transportation Department Office of Inspection General report repeatedly cited challenges in the FAA's multi-billion dollar Next Generation Air Transportation System infrastructure project.

☆ United Airlines crew reported 'a possible fire' in a plane's engine, causing the aircraft to turn around, FAA says
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( Kate Duffy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A United Airlines flight to Brazil returned to Texas after reports of a possible engine fire. The FAA told Insider the airline crew reported the incident during the flight. The aircraft returned to George Bush Intercontinental Airport and landed safely, the FAA said. Around two hours after takeoff, the site showed the plane circled back to George Bush Intercontinental Airport where it then landed. The FAA, George Bush Airport, and Houston's fire department didn't respond to Insider's request for comment.

☆ Kazakh airline says business is booming as Russia loses traffic
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

ALMATY, March 29 (Reuters) - Kazakhstan's flagship airline, Air Astana, is speeding up its expansion plans to take advantage of a drop in air traffic via Russia and the reopening of China, chief executive Peter Foster told Reuters. Many global airlines stopped flights to Russia after it invaded Ukraine last year. The company plans to grow its fleet to 50 aircraft by the end of this year from the current 44 aircraft, Foster said, and is accelerating expansion plans for the coming years. "We see very big opportunities in China, as China has opened again, following COVID, India is doing well.., Pakistan is a growth market." "And that's been resolved, we have no problem with accessing spare parts,"Kazakhstan's sovereign wealth fund, which owns a 51% stake in Air Astana, plans to list the company publicly next year.

☆ FAA's Bill Nolen: We are hiring as aggressively as we can
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailFAA's Bill Nolen: We are hiring as aggressively as we canBill Nolen, FAA acting administrator, joins 'Squawk Box' to discuss fears around the New York City airline congestion, whether the FAA is having trouble hiring air traffic controllers, and more.

☆ JetBlue is preparing to trim New York flights in response to FAA staffing shortage, CEO says
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( Leslie Josephs | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The FAA cited its staffing shortfall. "We don't want to pull down flights. I'm sure no airline wants to pull down flights," Hayes said in an interview with CNBC ahead of an event at the Economic Club of New York. The staffing shortfall and potential schedule cuts in the region highlight the difficulty airlines have faced to ramp up capacity as travel demand returns in the wake of a pandemic lull. If weather is bad or there are other challenges, disruptions tend to cascade if airlines have packed their schedules with too many flights.

☆ Israel isn't 'out of the woods' even though Netanyahu paused the plan that pushed his country into chaos
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-28 | by ( John Haltiwanger | Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

A judicial overhaul plan pushed by Netanyahu's government sparked a major crisis in Israel. "The crisis was deferred, but definitely not resolved," a former US ambassador to Israel told Insider. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was forced to hit pause on a deeply controversial plan to overhaul the country's judiciary, but Israel's problems are far from over. One piece of the plan has already been passed into law, narrowing the circumstances under which a prime minister can be deemed unfit for office. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a voting session in the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, in Jerusalem, Israel on March 27, 2023.

☆ The FAA is warning flyers of a 45% increase in flight delays this summer in NYC and DC as it deals with staff shortage
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-27 | by ( Bianca Giacobone | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The FAA anticipates a 45% increase in flight delays at East Coast airports in the summer of 2023. The agency is blaming a post-pandemic shortage of air traffic controllers at key New York facilities. Airlines will be temporarily allowed to give up slots and times at airports in New York and DC. The agency expects overall delays in the New York region to increase 45% in the coming months compared to summer 2022, according to a recent press release. Last summer saw over 40,000 delays recorded at the New York area airports and the highest yearly percentage of delayed flights of the past seven years.

MILAN, March 25 (Reuters) - Italy's Treasury said it would confirm Luigi Lovaglio as chief executive of Monte dei Paschi di Siena , keeping the veteran banker in charge of the bank as turmoil shakes the industry. Monte dei Paschi (MPS) is due to appoint a new board of directors on April 20 and the Treasury, which owns 64% of MPS following a 2017 bailout, on Saturday said it had filed its slate of nominees for the board. He arrived at MPS just over a year ago, when the Treasury pushed out his predecessor. A merger also remains the preferred option of banking supervisors to buttress MPS' fragile profitability, a second source said. A failed attempt to sell MPS to UniCredit has forced Italy to seek more time from the EU to cut its stake.

☆ Italy to hand Monte dei Paschi CEO Lovaglio new mandate - sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MILAN, March 25 (Reuters) - Italy's Treasury is set to hand veteran banker Luigi Lovaglio a new mandate as chief executive of state-owned lender Monte dei Paschi di Siena , two people with knowledge of the matter said. Lovaglio, who built his career at UniCredit (CRDI.MI) where he eventually rose to lead the group's former Polish unit Bank Pekao, arrived at Monte dei Paschi (MPS) just over a year ago, when the Treasury pushed out his predecessor. The state owns 64% of MPS following a 2017 bailout. Lovaglio, one of Italy's most experienced commercial bankers, in November oversaw a make-or-break 2.5 billion euro ($2.7 billion) capital raise which allowed MPS to bolster capital and fund voluntary layoffs. ($1 = 0.9295 euros)Reporting by Valentina Za and Valentina Za; Editing by Michael PerryOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

The country’s generous pension system and early retirement have long been a point of pride since they were enacted after World War II. Railway workers hold a banner reading "Until the withdrawal" during a demonstration a few days after the government forced the pension reform through parliament without a vote. Macron and his government have defended the retirement reform as necessary to keep the pension system funded. He also defended the decision to push through the reform as financially necessary, no matter how unpopular it was. Between opinion polls and the national interest, I chose the national interest,” Macron said.

☆ France pension reform protests turn violent following national day of action
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Aurore Laborie Dalal Mawad Oliver Briscoe Allegra Goodwin Pierre Bairin Helen Regan | Aurore Laborie | Dalal Mawad | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Paris CNN —More than a million people took to the streets across France on Thursday with protests turning violent in some areas as demonstrators voiced their fury at proposed pension reforms. At least 80 people were arrested and 123 police officers injured in France on Thursday during the nationwide protests, French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said. The gate of the Bordeaux city hall after it was set on fire during a demonstration on a national day of action, on March 23 in Bordeaux, southwestern France. French riot police apprehend a protester amid clashes during a demonstration against pension reform in Paris on March 23, 2023. It rammed the legislation through the French National Assembly last week using a constitutional clause that allows the government to bypass a vote.

The Verdi union is negotiating on behalf of around 2.5 million employees in the public sector, including in public transport and at airports. Railway and transport union EVG negotiates for around 230,000 employees at Deutsche Bahn (DBN.UL) and bus companies. Verdi has called on around 120,000 employees in the transport and infrastructure sectors, including ground and air traffic service providers, shipping, motorways and municipal ports, to join the strikes. We want a negotiable offer," said Martin Burkert, the chairman of the EVG union, which represents workers at 50 transport companies, including railway operator Deutsche Bahn. German airport association ADV also condemned the strikes expected to hit around 380,000 air travellers on Monday as all airports across Germany, except Berlin, would come to a virtual standstill.

☆ U.S. FAA cuts airlines' minimum flight requirements at NY, Washington airports
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, March 22 (Reuters) - The U.S. aviation regulator said on Wednesday it will temporarily cut minimum flight requirements for airlines at congested New York City-area airports and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to address summer congestion issues, citing air traffic controller staffing levels. Passengers and regulators have expressed outrage while airlines said the FAA needed more staffing. Airlines can lose their slots at congested airports if they do not use them at least 80% of the time. The FAA expects airlines to take actions minimizing impacts on passengers, including operating larger aircraft and ensuring passengers are informed about any possible disruptions. Last summer there were 41,498 flights from New York airports where air traffic control staffing was a contributing factor in delays.

☆ FAA launches new plan to avoid flight delays in NYC, DC this summer
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( Leslie Josephs | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The agency said it will reduce flight requirements for airlines' take off and landing rights to avoid congestion. Airline executives have repeatedly complained about air traffic control shortfalls contributing to flight disruptions as air travel sprang back from pandemic lows in the past few years. Airlines last summer also reduced their schedules to avoid delays as they dealt with their own staffing issues and other strains. The FAA said it expects increased delays in the New York City area this summer compared with last year, projecting a 45% rise in delays with operations growing 7%. Later this month, the FAA will hold a summit with airlines about other ways it can ease disruptions in the area.

☆ Israeli strike hits near Aleppo airport - Syrian officials
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( Suleiman Al-Khalidi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

AMMAN March 22 (Reuters) - An Israeli air strike hit near Syria's Aleppo airport early Wednesday, causing "material damage" and shutting down operations there, Syrian officials said, while regional intelligence sources said the attack hit an Iranian arms depot. In the third attack on Aleppo airport in six months, Israel launched "a number of missiles from the Mediterranean Sea, west of the coastal city of Latakia, at 3:55 a.m.", the Syrian defence ministry said in a statement on state media. Two regional intelligence sources said the strike hit an underground munitions depot linked to the nearby Nairab military airport, where missile systems delivered on several Iranian military planes had been stored. Nairab military airport has been used regularly for Iranian arms deliveries and the movement of troops, the intelligence sources said. An Israeli strike on March 7 that knocked Aleppo airport out of service blew up an Iranian arms cargo shipment hours after it was delivered by a plane that Damascus said was carrying aid, the Western intelligence sources say.

[1/2] An Air India Airbus A320 plane is seen at the Boryspil International Airport upon arrival, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak outside Kiev, Ukraine May 26, 2020. "India is now at that inflection point," Scindia said during an interview at his office in New Delhi. "We are going to see an explosion of air traffic in India in the years to come," he said, adding he wanted domestic carriers to look at international expansion with greater focus. Air India last month placed a record order for 470 jets and is making an aggressive push in the international market. Scindia said India was not looking at increasing air traffic quotas with Gulf states and instead wanted Indian carriers to offer non-stop long haul flights on larger planes.

[1/2] Air India passenger aircraft are seen on the tarmac at Chhatrapati Shivaji International airport in Mumbai, India, February 14, 2023. Current limits on the amount of flying allowed between India and many markets date back to heavy losses at Air India around the beginning of the last decade, analysts said. "We are not getting enough share from this market," Turkish Airlines Chief Executive Bilal Eksi told the CAPA India conference. "I think it's about time that our carriers looked at the international market with greater focus. Other analysts noted India is not alone in making use of a post-war system of air traffic agreements to aid development.

☆ China still seeking answers a year after plane crash
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

BEIJING/WASHINGTON, March 20 (Reuters) - China's aviation regulator said Monday investigators were still looking into the cause of the crash of China Eastern Airlines' Flight MU5735, almost a year after the plane came down, killing all 132 people on board. On the eve of the anniversary, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) said experts had already inspected more than 100 pieces of wreckage. NTSB investigators also traveled to China. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said last week the agency has had a "really good working relationship with China" during the investigation. A final report into the causes of the crash could take two years or more to compile, Chinese officials said last year.

☆ Beijing still seeking answers a year after China Eastern plane crash
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

While the MU5735 tragedy like all aircraft disasters was complex, the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder of the aircraft were recovered days after the crash, he added. A final report into the causes of the crash could take two years or more to compile, Chinese officials said last year. Boeing declined to comment and China Eastern did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder were sent to a U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) laboratory in Washington, a move Beijing had supported despite rising political tensions between the two countries. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said last week the agency has had a "really good working relationship with China" during the investigation.

☆ Brent oil prices slip under $72 per barrel amid banking turmoil
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Brent oil prices logged losses Monday, dropping below $72 per barrel in intraday trade amid turmoil in the banking sector. The Brent contract with May delivery was trading at $71.64 per barrel at 11:00 London time, down by $1.33 per barrel from the Friday close. The front-month April WTI Nymex was at $65.52 per barrel, lower by $1.22 per barrel from the previous settlement. It added that the options market is now intensifying the decline in oil prices through delta-hedging plays. Questions linger over the potential demand boost from a reopening China — the world's largest importer of crude oil, whose buying was reined in for much of last year by Covid-19 restrictions.

☆ India to boost aviation infrastructure as demand booms
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NEW DELHI, March 20 (Reuters) - India outlined plans on Monday to invest billions of dollars in airports, aircraft and recruitment as the world's fastest-growing economy seeks to meet booming air travel demand. Growth will include new airports, more regulators and air traffic controllers, and new flying schools, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia told an industry audience. "We need to put in place the civil aviation infrastructure and capabilities that by 2047 would be able to support a $20 trillion economy within India," Scindia told the CAPA India Aviation Summit in New Delhi. Where at one point we did not have passengers to fill our airplanes ... now we do not have enough airplanes to fly our passengers," Scindia said. Consultancy CAPA India expects at least 1,300 more orders from Indian airlines in the next 1-2 years, weeks after Air India announced a record order for 470 jets.

☆ The mystery of MH370 remains 9 years later — here are all the theories, dead ends, and unanswered questions from the most bizarre airline disaster of the century
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +15 min

The theories so farA new Netflix documentary about the plane, "MH370: The Plane That Disappeared," was released in March 2023. The show's director called the plane's disappearance "the greatest aviation mystery of all time." But the July 2018 report had offered evidence against the idea that it was a deliberate act by the crew. But Australia's former prime minister, Tony Abbott, said in 2020 that the plane's disappearance was "almost certainly murder-suicide by the pilot." But the 2018 report said there was no technology on the plane that would allow control to be taken from the pilots remotely.

☆ A United flight was grounded after a passenger found a bomb threat note in the bathroom: reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A United Airlines flight was grounded for several hours in Vermont on Sunday. A local NBC affiliate obtained audio of the plane's pilot discussing an apparent bomb threat. The Burlington airport was closed during the search and reopened around 7:30 p.m. local time. "A flight attendant just came up and said that a passenger found a note in the aft lav that said there was a bomb on board," the pilot can be heard saying. A spokesperson for United referred Insider to Republic Airways, which was operating the regional flight.

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