NewsDecision On Berlin Airport Delay DelayedA decision on whether the opening of Berlin's new Brandenburg Airport needs to be delayed for a third time was postponed until next month, authorities said, another setback for what was meant to be a flagship project for Germany's capital.
LinkAeroflot Flight Lands In Iceland After Bomb Threat
An Aeroflot jet flying from New York to Moscow made an emergency landing in Iceland on Thursday after a caller claimed there was a bomb on board. "There was an anonymous call saying that there was an explosive device on the plane, which was already in the air," Aeroflot spokesman Irina Dannenberg said. "The pilot took the decision to land the plane and it landed safely. A search is being conducted."
LinkAmbitious Ethiopian views Addis as potential Dubai-like hub
With the Boeing 787 now officially part of its fleet, Ethiopian Airlines (ET) believes it is well-positioned to be the leading airline on the African continent and eventually compete against any of the world’s top carriers for passengers and cargo.
LinkEtihad beefs-up Australian flights
Etihad is boosting its Australian service with the launch of two additional flights. The UAE flag carrier will increase flights between Brisbane and Abu Dhabi (UAE) via Singapore from three times a week to a daily service from 1 February 2013.
LinkAir France Asks Passengers For Cash To Refuel
The crew of an Air France plane that was re-routed via Damascus on Wednesday asked passengers how much cash they could stump up after Syrian authorities refused credit card payment to refuel the aircraft. Ultimately it found an alternative arrangement.
LinkRomney Accused of Airline Union BustingAn airline controlled by Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney's Bain Capital ran an illegal campaign to suppress a pilots' union, according to a Financial Times report.
LinkEl Al Cuts Stem Second Quarter Losses
El Al reduced its losses in the second quarter by nearly 70 percent as it pushed ahead with a cost-cutting campaign, offsetting a continuing fall in revenue.
LinkHong Kong may cancel A380 order, delay six 777FsHong Kong Airlines (HX) is considering canceling its order for 10 Airbus A380s according to newswire AFP, amid ongoing Chinese government protests against the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme tax (EU ETS).
LinkVietnam Airlines downgrades yearly profit forecast 
Vietnam Airlines (VN) has downgraded its profit forecast for the year as it deals with more competition. The airline has asked the Ministry of Transport to adjust its business targets due to business difficulties during the first seven months of the year, Vietnam News Agency has reported.
LinkBrazil’s Defense Spending Prompts Embraer To Change TackEmbraer is a brand synonymous with commercial and business aviation, but can it also become one of the world's largest defense firms? The Brazilian aerospace company is repositioning itself to achieve that goal, and the catalyst for the move is a series of multibillion-dollar defense contracts that are coming up for grabs in Brazil.
LinkJapan Airlines to revamp 777-300ER and 767-300ER cabins
Japan Airlines (JAL) will retrofit its Boeing 777-300ER fleet and some of its Boeing 767-300ERs with a new cabin product. The Oneworld alliance member's 13 Boeing 777-300ERs will be retrofitted with eight first class seats, 49 business seats, 40 premium economy seats and 135 economy seats, says JAL's spokeswoman.
LinkFlybe adds Southampton-Nantes winter flights
Flybe will begin daily services from Southampton International airport to Nantes Atlantique airport on 28 October.
LinkTrial for US cargo pilotA US cargo pilot arrested for being drunk at the controls will face trial in October. Paul Robbin Roessler denies operating a twin-engine PA-34 under the influence.
LinkThousands of United retirees will get larger pension checksAbout 18% of United Airlines retirees are owed bigger pensions, according to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. The federal agency announced that it had undervalued United's pension assets by less than 1%, or $58 million, and will soon start sending back payments to 8,247 retirees. Most will see raises of 1% or less.
LinkAirlines turn to explosives-detection technology to screen foodSeveral airlines -- including British Airways, Delta Air Lines, Lufthansa and Air France -- are using explosive-trace detectors developed by Implant Sciences to screen food and beverage carts. Company officials say the technology has a very low false-alarm rate. "We're working on technologies to drive false alarms even lower, increase the accuracy of the analysis and increase the number of substances that can be identified, making it easier for security professionals to get their work done," said Brad Chase, the company's marketing director.
LinkVirgin Australia is rethinking seating policy on unaccompanied minorsVirgin Australia is re-examining its policy of not allowing men to sit next to unaccompanied children. A Sydney firefighter this year was ordered to switch seats because he was sitting next to two boys flying without an adult. "I felt like I was being judged and found guilty of a crime I hadn't committed," said the traveler, Johnny McGirr.
LinkDelta rolls back fare increaseDelta Air Lines has reverted to previous fare prices after a failed attempt Monday at a fare increase of up to $10 per round trip on some flights. Competing carriers didn't raise their ticket prices to meet Delta's changes.
LinkIPads are becoming more common in cockpit and main cabinCommercial airlines are more commonly using tablet computers in the cockpit. The practice is expected to save United Airlines 263,000 gallons of fuel each year due to reduced weight. The iPad is also having an effect on in-flight entertainment. Qantas, for example, is giving business- and coach-class fliers iPads to watch videos during long flights.
LinkNASA research can help fliers fend off jet lagNASA research aimed at helping astronauts overcome jet lag as they fly for training between international space agencies can also help the rest of us fend off fatigue. Among the space agency tips: Control how much light you're exposed to.
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