Instances of air rage on commercial flights increased again last year, and alcohol and drugs were involved in less than a quarter of cases, according to IATA. Some 10,854 incidents were reported to IATA by its member airlines in 2015, equating to one every 1,205 flights. That’s up from 9,316 incidents, or one every 1,282 flights, the previous year, the industry group said Wednesday. The majority of cases involved verbal abuse, failure to follow lawful crew instructions and other forms of anti-social behaviour, while 11% featured physical aggression toward passengers or crew, or damage to the aircraft. Intoxication was identified as a factor in 23% of cases, and in most instances alcohol was consumed prior to boarding or from a personal supply rather than bought -- or handed out -- on the plane. <br/>
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Gogo is planning to overhaul its network, an overburdened system that provides Wi-Fi service for millions of travellers but has struggled to keep pace with rising demand. The upgrade promises to bring faster in-flight connections to big US airlines and business jets but requires new equipment on both cellular towers and planes. Thus, it won’t be available until 2018. Gogo’s original network hasn’t had a major upgrade since launching in 2008, even as smartphones have multiplied. Instead, Gogo has used higher prices on planes to help control demand for its limited bandwidth. Even those willing to pay more than US$30 for Gogo on a cross-country flight don’t get speeds good enough to stream videos. Meanwhile, newer services are rolling out at faster speeds at half the cost or less than Gogo. <br/>
Rolls-Royce boss Warren East has rebuilt confidence in the engine-maker, but there are doubts among investors and industry experts about whether his slimmed-down group has the muscle to meet ambitious production and development goals. The CE has axed more than 600 management jobs and sought to reduce production times and costs since taking the helm last July, as part of a drive to increase efficiency at the company. While wrestling with the restructuring, however, Rolls must almost double its output of wide-body plane engines by 2019 to meet orders. It must also replace the blades across hundreds of engines used in Dreamliners after some cracked, while designing two new jet engines, the Advance and UltraFan. A source in the company familiar with its strategy said that East's turnaround programme was being felt across the business. <br/>
The US will send auditors for final assessment of Kenya's viability to handle direct flights by the end of October. This was confirmed by US Transportation secretary Antony Fox who met Transport Cabinet secretary James Macharia during the ICAO Assembly taking place in Montreal, Canada. "Among other matters, the two ministers reviewed the progress made by Kenya in achieving category one status and thus allowing direct flights to USA," the ministry said. Macharia and his counterpart said most of outstanding issues had been concluded and the audit team from the US will be dispatched soon for final confirmation and sign off. Kenya has to meet 8 critical elements under the FAA’s International Aviation Safety Assessment procedure. <br/>
Those who cancel their international air ticket will not be levied penalty as long as they cancel it 91 days before departure. The Fair Trade Commission said Wednesday that it revised contracts of the 7 local airlines regarding cancellation of air tickets. They are Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, Jeju Air, Air Busan, Eastar Jet, Jin Air and T'way Air. They have been levying fixed rate of cancellation fees on air tickets, regardless of when the passenger cancels the air tickets. After the revision, however, they will be levying different rates of cancellation fees, depending on when the cancellation is made. The cancellation made at least 91 days before departure, for instance, won't be levied any cancellation fee, while cancellations made with 90 days or less left until departure will be levied different rates of fees. <br/>