US plots to sanction COMAC, AVIC - report

The US Department of Commerce is planning to impose sanctions on 89 Chinese aerospace firms, including aircraft manufacturers AVIC and COMAC, for their alleged military ties, Reuters has reported. The news agency saw a draft list of sanctions, although the representatives of the US administration refused to comment or acknowledge the plan. According to the draft, the sanctions would be motivated by "national security interest". If enacted, the sanctions would substantially hinder… (www.ch-aviation.com) Plus d'info...

Lufthansa, JetBlue and United Sign On for Alternate COVID-19 Digital Pass

In the rush to develop a digital health pass for international travelers, a race to launch first could be brewing between aviation giants. The Commons Project Foundation announced the development of their own health pass, CommonTrust, with the backing of Lufthansa, JetBlue and United Airlines. COMMONPASS GETS SUPPORT FROM AIRLINES, AIRPORT COUNCIL AND WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM One of several projects from the Commons Foundation, the goal of CommonPass is to allow flyers to verify their record of… (www.flyertalk.com) Plus d'info...

Volga-Dnepr Grounds Antonov 124 Fleet Following Crash

ussian cargo airline Volga-Dnepr has grounded its fleet of Antonov An-124 aircraft. According to the airline, the grounding is a proactive and pre-emptive decision following a near catastrophe earlier in November for the An-124 RA-82042. (simpleflying.com) Plus d'info...

Former Thai Airways CEO Jailed For Using Position To Avoid Luggage Fees

The former chairman of Thai Airways has been sentenced for two years for failing to pay for excess baggage. The case found that Wallop Bhukkanasut, who was chairman of the board at the time, used his status to take bags weighing 300kg above the airline’s limit on a flight in 2009. Wallop Bhukkanasut had one of the shortest tenures of any chairman of an airline board in history. He was appointed in April 2009 but resigned in December that year after details emerged of an abuse of power. Now, a… (simpleflying.com) Plus d'info...

Delta Cargo shuts Chicago airport facility for 9 days

Internal problem at O'Hare forces temporary shut down of cargo operations for Delta Cargo. (www.freightwaves.com) Plus d'info...

Thanksgiving Could Be The ‘Mother Of All Superspreader Events,’ Health Expert Warns

The US could see an explosion of Covid-19 infections in the weeks following Thanksgiving, Dr. Jonathan Reiner, a former White House medical team adviser, told CNN Tuesday. “It’s potentially the mother of all superspreader events.” Many health officials believe the Midwest was seeded with Covid-19 last summer from just such an event, the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota, Reiner said. “Now imagine that on a massive scale — people leaving from every airport in the United States, and… (baltimore.cbslocal.com) Plus d'info...

Air France, KLM to commence Nigeria flights

Air France and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines have announced the resumption of flight operations into Abuja and Lagos from December 7. The airline in a statement on Monday said passengers could now fly Air France and KLM from Nigeria (Abuja and Lagos) to Paris and Amsterdam, with the possibility of transfer to other European and North Atlantic destinations. (punchng.com) Plus d'info...

This is how air travel’s transformed through the decades

A history of air travel in pictures From the early days of flight and the "golden age of travel", to modern-day budget airlines and the current regulations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, air travel has changed a lot over the past century. Here, we take a journey through time to bring you the biggest milestones in commercial aviation history. (www.msn.com) Plus d'info...

French finance minister tells Bloomberg TV: I can guarantee survival of Air France

French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire told Bloomberg TV he could guarantee the survival of Air France, which like many airlines around the world has been hit hard by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Le Maire said in the interview that he hoped to keep the alliance between Air France and KLM as it was in the interests of both the Netherlands and France. (Reporting by Leigh Thomas; Editing by Edmund Blair) (www.msn.com) Plus d'info...

GOL (GOLL4) performs the first technical flight with the Boeing 737 MAX

With more than 600 days “banned” from flying, MAX wins the Brazilian skies with technical flight “homologation” with the new updates... (cmsherbert.blogspot.com) Plus d'info...

Starting in December, Lufthansa will have daily flights to Brazil and SWISS 5 flights a week

"Before the pandemic, Brazil was already positioned as a strategic market for the Lufthansa Group. The pandemic crisis highlighted the importance of the country for the group and confirmed that... (cmsherbert.blogspot.com) Plus d'info...

Aviation Bodies Seek Slots Waiver

Global aviation heavyweights led by airline body IATA are pushing to suspend airport slot access rules until October 2021 (www.reuters.com) Plus d'info...

U.S. ultra-low-cost carrier Avatar Airlines gears up to acquire 10 Boeing 747-400

BOCA RATON — Ultra-low fare newcomer Avatar Airlines has stretched its wings across the globe and extended a letter of intent to Thai Airways to acquire 10 long-haul Boeing 747-400 aircraft. Avatar plans to operate scheduled service between major city pairs throughout the United States and Hawaii with routes including popular domestic vacation destinations and large family-oriented attractions. (www.airlinerwatch.com) Plus d'info...

Retired British Airways 747 Catches Fire

British Airways has stored many of its 747s at Castellon Airport in Spain, which has the airport code CDT. Well, unfortunately today one of these parked 747s caught fire, and it caused some significant damage to the plane. (onemileatatime.com) Plus d'info...

Solving the dry ice challenge for COVID vaccine

SkyCell says it will begin manufacturing an airfreight container that takes less ice, enabling flights to be loaded with more COVID vaccines. (www.freightwaves.com) Plus d'info...

Delta Pilots Approve Cost-Cutting Measures to Avoid Furloughs Until 2022

Delta pilots voted for a cost-cutting deal that would avoid more than 1,700 furloughs. The deal would cut pilots hours 5% and slash minimum pay for pilots who were on the furlough list. Delta Air Lines pilots voted in favor of pay cuts that would avoid furloughs until 2022 as the industry reels from the coronavirus pandemic, their labor union said Wednesday. The deal allows the company to lower pilots' guaranteed hours by as much 5%. The more than 1,700 pilots who would have been furloughed… (www.nbcboston.com) Plus d'info...