Reading Time: 4 minutes The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released full-year 2017 data for global air freight markets showing that demand, measured in freight tonne kilometers (FTKs) grew by 9.0%. This was more than double the 3.6% annual growth recorded in 2016. Freight capacity, measured in available freight tonne kilometers (AFTKs), rose by 3.0% in 2017. This was […]

Reading Time: < 1 minute The FAA approved the first supplemental type certificate (STC) for SmartSky Networks’ pioneering airborne 4G LTE network, awarding it to SmartSky’s manufacturing partner Avidyne Corporation for installation on the Cessna Citation Excel. Avidyne CEO Dan Schwinn stated, “With this pioneering first STC in hand, we expect to receive Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA) from the FAA […]

Reading Time: 2 minutes The International Air Transport Association (IATA) welcomes the launch of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) initiative by the African Union (AU) to open up Africa’s skies and improve intra-African air connectivity. Enhanced connectivity will stimulate demand, improve the competitiveness of the African airline industry, and make air travel more accessible. In turn, this […]

Reading Time: 2 minutes The long-awaited opening of the intra-African air transport market is slated to become a reality on Jan. 28, when the African Union (AU) signs off the final rule-making after a renewed push for liberalization. The single African air transport market (SAATM) was meant to happen nearly two decades ago, following the adoption of the 1999 […]

Reading Time: < 1 minute Boeing announced the 787-10 Dreamliner received an amended type certificate (ATC) from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), clearing the airplane for commercial service. The awarding of ATC caps a successful flight test program that began in March 2017 and involved three flight test airplanes that accumulated about 900 test hours. Boeing’s flight test program […]

Reading Time: < 1 minute EASA’s preliminary analysis of the Commercial Air Transport operations in 2017 shows the lowest number of fatal accidents in modern aviation history in 2017. The preliminary analysis covers both worldwide operations and those involving the 32 EASA Member States.

Reading Time: < 1 minute The Chinese government said it will loosen its control over China’s big three carriers—China Southern Airlines, Air China and China Eastern Airlines—allowing its ownership stakes in the airlines to fall below 50%. Currently, state-owned company China National Aviation Holding Co. holds a 53.5% stake in Air China, state-owned China Eastern Group holds a 56.4% stake […]

Reading Time: 2 minutes Brazil Congress’ lower house has approved an Open Skies agreement between the U.S. and Brazil, which in turn means that the way has been further cleared for an intended partnership between American Airlines Group and LATAM Group SA (LATAM). The agreement still requires ratification from the Brazil Senate. Having been signed in 2011, the agreement […]

Reading Time: 3 minutes With every ticking minute towards the day when the UK exits the European Union (EU), anxiety is growing among those in the airline industry about when replacement agreements will be secured to ensure uninterrupted commercial air traffic in and out of the UK. Anxiety levels ratcheted up several more notches in mid-December when the European […]

Reading Time: < 1 minute The US and the European Union (EU) are amending two joint agreements expanding cooperation on aviation safety and air traffic management (ATC) modernization. Officials from FAA, the EU and the European Commission co-signed the amendments in Brussels Dec. 13. The amendment to the US-EU Safety Agreement, which originally took effect May 1, 2011, enables the […]