NewsEtihad wins FIPB approval for jet deal
India's foreign investment regulator gave conditional approval on Monday for a USD$379 million deal by Etihad Airways to buy a stake in Jet Airways, paving the way for more deals in the country's domestic aviation sector.
Etihad had agreed in April to buy a 24 percent stake in Jet in the first such deal since the Indian government allowed foreign airlines to own up to 49 percent of Indian carriers last September.
LinkRyanair Q1 profit drops 21 percent
Irish low cost carrier Ryanair's first quarter profit fell 21 percent to EUR€78 million (USD$103 million) in the three months to June.
Ryanair said its average fares fell 4 percent due to the timing of Easter and the impact of air traffic control strikes in France. Non-ticket income from extras such as baggage and reserved seating rose 25 percent.
LinkQatar Airways Grounds Another Boeing 787
Qatar Airways said on Friday it had taken one of its Boeing 787 Dreamliners out of service following what it described as a "minor" technical issue, as pressure mounted on Boeing over possible new electrical problems with the advanced jet.
LinkAvantair's future looks grim
The future of Avantair, the operator of Piaggio Avanti fractional ownership, Axis Lease and Edge Card flight access programs, was hanging in the balance at the end of Friday as the Clearwater, Fla.-based company urgently sought restructuring options following its June 26 cessation of operations. The shutdown came after a June 6 fleet grounding that followed concerns about proper tracking of time-controlled parts, which the company apparently swapped among aircraft in a bid to maintain fleet availability.
LinkAmerican Airlines stakeholders vote on proposed merger 
Creditors of American Airlines and other stakeholders will vote on Monday on the carrier's proposed merger with US Airways. The merger "has the support of many of our stakeholders," American spokesman Mike Trevino said. "We hope to see that support reflected in the voting, once the final tabulation is complete."
LinkUS Airways to join oneworld alliance by 2014, exec says 
US Airways plans to join the oneworld alliance by 2014, ending its relationship with Star Alliance. "We plan to be fully transitioned to oneworld by the beginning of next year," said J. Scott Kirby, president of US Airways. Kirby remains optimistic about the state of the airline industry, noting that: "Air travel continues to be a great bargain for consumers."
LinkRepublic Airways share rise on news of sale 
Investors reacted favorably to word that Republic Airways Holdings had secured a possible deal to sell its Frontier unit. Shares rose 5.6% on news that Republic has a potential buyer, whose name it did not disclose, for Frontier, which has been on the auction block since 2011.
LinkBoeing names new chief project engineer for 787 
Boeing has announced Bob Whittington will take over the role as chief project engineer for the 787. Mike Sinnett, the previous chief engineer for the 787, will serve as vice president of product development.
LinkFAA issues GPS guidance for overseas airlines 
The Federal Aviation Administration issued guidance to all foreign airlines advising the use of GPS systems to guide landings at San Francisco International Airport.
LinkNTSB chairwoman's 2nd term ends next month Deborah Hersman, the chairwoman of the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, does not know if she will return for a third term. Her second term ends on Aug. 3. "That is a decision that the White House will make," she said. "Right now I’m focused on the work that’s in front of us from this past week."
LinkBoeing: 777 corrective action was taken and matter closed in 2010 The Federal Aviation Administration has proposed a fine against Boeing for quality control issues with fasteners installed on the Boeing 777. Boeing said it is working with the FAA to "understand and address any remaining concerns." The aircraft manufacturer said it had taken corrective action and closed the matter in November 2010.
LinkBoeing asks for beacon checks on 1,200 jets
Boeing has asked airlines to inspect up to 1,200 aircraft to gather data on Honeywell emergency beacons that have come under scrutiny following a fire on a parked 787 Dreamliner two weeks ago.
The blaze caused serious damage to the Ethiopian Airlines jet at London's Heathrow airport on July 12.
LinkChicago O'Hare receives grant for runway improvements Chicago O'Hare International Airport received a $65 million grant for runway improvements from the federal government. Rep. Mike Quigley, D-Ill., said "modernizing Chicago O'Hare will ensure the airport remains one of the top travel and shipping hubs in the country."
LinkMore time needed to study devices on planes A panel of experts convened by the Federal Aviation Administration says it needs more time to consider whether it's safe for passengers to use electronic devices on flights. The panel, which is pushing back the date for its recommendations to Sept. 30, has received a flood of comments from the public on both sides of the issue, with some passengers expressing irritation that they can't use e-readers on board planes and others worried about people missing safety instructions because they're engaged with gadgets.
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