A report into the evacuation of three terminals at New York’s JFK airport in August has said that a heightened state of anxiety caused an overreaction which led to mass panic. The report by security and law enforcement officials was prepared for New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson. The review of events of August 14 said mistaken reports of a shooter in one of the terminals caused panic and lead to people evacuating Terminals 1, 2 and 8. Existing security protocols and systems failed to reflect the “changing reality at airports,” the report said. There is now a range of federal, state, local and private security personnel at Kennedy airport, but that coordination and protocols have not adjusted to the increased presence. There is also a wide range of training and sophistication of the deployed security personnel, the report states. A heightened state of anxiety at US airports caused overreaction after people at a cafe in JFK Terminal 8 cheered Usain Bolt’s Olympic victory. Passengers panicked immediately after the celebration and a 911 police call was made. Reports then started circulating on social media that shots had been fired in a terminal.<br/>
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Boeing on Monday named a senior General Electric executive to head its commercial airplanes division and announced a new services unit, in moves to capture more of the profitable market for parts and repairs after a jet is sold. The changes are "a big and important step" toward Boeing's goal of increasing annual services revenue to about $50b in 10 years from about $15b currently, Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg said. The changes do not alter plans for developing aircraft, but put a new "emphasis on generating life-cycle value," Muilenburg said, referring to building an aircraft with an eye to gaining revenue from servicing the plane during its decades-long life. "We've always said growing services is a core part of our strategy, and now you see us emphasizing and investing accordingly," Muilenburg said. Boeing tapped Kevin McAllister, 53, to lead its $66b commercial airplane business, succeeding Ray Conner, 61, effective immediately. Conner, who started as a Boeing mechanic nearly 40 years ago, will serve as vice chairman through 2017 to help with the transition, the world's biggest planemaker said.<br/>
The Austrian government will cut local aviation taxes 50% by January 2018. Pending government approval, taxes should be reduced by 25% in 2017 and 25% the following year. The tax, which has become a burden for the industry, was implemented in 2011. Passengers boarding in Austria were charged E7 ($9.60) for short-haul flights, E15 for medium-haul flights and E35 for long-haul flights. “We would welcome such a move [reducing the aviation tax], which we see as a positive sign. Our competitive disadvantage will be then reduced,” Austrian Airlines spokesperson Peter Thier said. In 2015, airlines operating to and from Austria contributed €107 million to Austria’s ministry of treasury. “[Lufthansa Group subsidiary] Austrian Airlines itself delivered E32.5m, about 30% of this aviation tax. The Lufthansa Group paid E50.7m, 47% of the E107m,” Thier said. Reducing the local aviation tax is expected to increase Austria’s competitiveness in Europe and improve tourism business. Vienna Airport stated in an analysis that, without this tax, Austria could generate 1 million additional passengers annually.<br/>