Panasonic Corp said Thursday its avionics unit is being investigated by US authorities under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and that it has recently begun talks with US officials to resolve the matter. Panasonic Avionics Corp, a major supplier of in-flight entertainment systems, is being probed by the Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission. Panasonic did not specify the nature of the investigation. The Wall Street Journal reported in March 2013 that US authorities were investigating whether Panasonic Avionics paid bribes overseas to airline employees or govt officials to help land business. Separately, the company said it was immediately replacing the unit's CE Paul Margis, who has headed the company since 2005, with his deputy Hideo Nakano. <br/>
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The 3 biggest US airlines asked for a meeting with new secretary of State Rex Tillerson to discuss their long-held contention that billions of govt subsidies enable the Persian Gulf carriers to compete unfairly for passengers. Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways are receiving help from their govts that undermines “the basic principles of fair and open competition that are the foundation” of air treaties that regulate service between countries, according to a letter signed by the CEs of American Airlines Group, Delta Air Lines and United Continental. “The subsidies allow the Gulf carriers to operate without concern for turning a profit, unlike US airlines, and therefore focus entirely on stripping market share and driving out competition,” according to the letter. <br/>
Building a third runway at Heathrow will allow more connecting flights with other UK airports, Transport secretary Chris Grayling has said. He told the Commons that 6 regional airports could be added to the Heathrow hub network, bringing the total to 14. The new airports are thought to be Belfast, Liverpool, Newquay, Prestwick Humberside, and Durham Tees Valley. His comments came as he launched a public consultation on a new runway, unlikely to be operational until 2025. Grayling said that a third runway would generate tens of thousands of jobs, and be a major boost to the economy as Britain prepares to leave the EU. The cost of a third runway is estimated to be GBP22b. An additional 260,000 take-offs or landings would be permitted each year from the expanded airport, on top of the current cap of 480,000. <br/>
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said it will also require flight attendants to film any in-flight incidents to be used as evidence. Such changes will be made in a revision to airline safety regulations announced Thursday, it said. "Airlines will be asked to revise their own safety rules following the administrative announcement," a ministry official said. The move is the latest measure against in-flight violence, which was highlighted late last year when a drunk South Korean man went on a near rampage on a Korean Air flight from Vietnam to South Korea. Ministry officials said recorded footage of in-flight violence will allow prosecution of those causing such violence, noting a lack of hard evidence had often led to the acquittal of suspects in the past. <br/>