Air France-KLM, BA and nine other airlines were hit with an E776m fine by EU antitrust regulators Friday for taking part in an air cargo cartel more than a decade ago. The EC re-imposed the penalties after Europe's second highest court in 2015 annulled the EU executive's 2010 decision due to a procedural error. The fines were unchanged for all the airlines except for the amount due from Martinair - cut to E15.4m from the E29.5m amount set in 2010. Air France was fined E182.9m, the highest, followed by KLM at 127.1m, BA at 104.4m, Cargolux at 79.9m and Singapore Airlines at 74.8m. Other carriers penalised were Air Canada, Cathay Pacific Airways, Japan Airlines, LAN Chile and SAS. Lufthansa, along with subsidiary Swiss International Airlines, escaped a fine as it alerted the cartel to the EU competition authority. The Commission said it had fixed the procedural error cited by the court. "Working together in a cartel rather than competing to offer better services to customers does not fly with the Commission," EC Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said. SAS, with a 70m fine, and Air Canada, with a 21m fine, have said they would appeal the new decision.<br/>
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A radicalised Muslim known to intelligence agencies has been shot dead at Paris Orly airport after seizing an air force patrolwoman’s gun, hours after he shot a police officer in the face in a northern suburb. Authorities identified the man as Ziyed Ben Belgacem, a 39-year-old French national of north African origin born in Paris. The Paris prosecutor, François Molins, said that during the confrontation at the airport, Belgacem shouted at the patrolmen: “I’m there to die by Allah. In any case there will be deaths.” He was carrying a Koran, a container of petrol and matches in a backpack, which he threw to the ground before attacking the patrolwoman and holding a pellet gun to her temple. Molins said three of Belgacem’s relatives were in custody: his father, brother and a cousin. They went to a police station after Belgacem sent his brother a text message saying: “I’ve done something stupid. I’ve fired at police.” An investigation has been opened into attempted murder as part of a terrorist plot, Molins said. The 39-year-old man hurled himself at three air force personnel patrolling a passenger terminal on Saturday morning under counter-terrorism measures introduced after the 2015 Paris attacks. One of the patrolwomen clung to her gun as he wrestled her to the ground. Eventually he succeeded in prising it out of her grasp, and it was then one of the the patrolmen opened fire. Belgacem fell down after one of the patrolmen fired the first shot, but then got up and was hit for a second time, Molins said. Again Belgacem rose to his feet, but died after a third shot was fired. The attacker, who had previous drugs and theft convictions, was wanted for questioning by police in connection with criminal investigations. Molins said Belgacem was flagged up as having been radicalised while in prison in 2011 and 2012. The airport, packed with weekend travellers and holidaymakers, was evacuated while it was searched by bomb disposal squads. No explosives were found. Some 3,000 people were escorted out of the airport terminals. Passengers in planes that had landed before the shooting were kept aboard the aircraft until the airport was judged secure. By mid-afternoon, the airport had re-opened and flights were gradually resuming.<br/>
The Civil Aviation Administration of China’s (CAAC) Air Traffic Management Bureau signed a memorandum of understanding with Boeing in an effort to alleviate increasing air traffic congestion in China. According to the MOU, the regulator will cooperate with Boeing to enhance the efficiency and capacity of China’s airspace system as China continues to grow into one of the world’s largest and most complex aviation operating environments. Boeing will provide professional expertise to CAAC in the key fields of airspace management, flow management, aviation data, communication, navigation, surveillance, meteorology, general aviation and training. “We are focused on making sure that the airspace system does not limit growth of the airlines while maintaining the highest levels of safety,” CAAC DG-Air Traffic Management Bureau Che Jinjun said. “This MOU reaffirms our longstanding relationship with the CAAC’s Air Traffic Management Bureau and highlights Boeing’s expertise in the aviation services industry with airspace and air traffic management solutions that enhance efficiencies on a wide scale,” Boeing China president John Bruns said. “China is the largest commercial market for Boeing with tremendous growth potential. It is mutually beneficial for Boeing and the CAAC to work together to develop lasting solutions that build and enhance airspace capacity in China,” he added.<br/>
Responding to a reported tripling of recreational unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) incidents since 2014, Transport Canada issued new operational rules March 16, effective immediately. The new rules affect operations of recreational UAVs weighing between 250g and 35kg, and include the specification that recreational operators cannot fly UAVs within nine kilometers (5.6 miles) of the center of any airport, heliport, aerodrome or water aerodrome where aircraft take off and land. The rules will be in effect for a period of up to one year, until permanent regulations are put in place. Operators of UAVs for commercial, academic or research purposes will not be affected, Transport Canada said, adding that rules already in place “are effective and most commercial users operate their [UAVs] in a safe manner.” “I take very seriously the increased risk to aviation safety and to people on the ground caused by [UAVs],” Canadian Transport Minister Marc Garneau said. “That is why I am proceeding with this measure which takes effect immediately, to enhance the safety of aviation and the public while we work to bring into force permanent regulations.” According to Transport Canada, UAV incidents increased from 41 in 2014 to 148 in 2016.<br/>
Airbus does not expect deliveries of its A320neo planes to be significantly affected by recent problems with Pratt and Whitney engines, the Airbus CE said Friday. Airbus has handed over about 70 A320neo jets since starting deliveries last year, mostly to Indian carriers IndiGo, owned by InterGlobe Aviation, and privately owned GoAir. India stepped up inspections of A320neos fitted with Pratt and Whitney engines after at least two incidents at IndiGo and GoAir involving the aircraft. India's aviation regulator is investigating the cases separately. A senior government officials said on Friday the authorities did not see any immediate safety issues. Airbus CEO Tom Enders said engine issues were "unfortunate" and his firm was working with the airlines, the engine maker and government and safety authorities to resolve them. "I do not see that over time this will largely impact our delivery schedule," he said.<br/>
Airbus CE Tom Enders said on Friday he was not surprised by a French decision to investigate Airbus plane sales and said the firm had shown the effectiveness of its compliance rules by uncovering irregularities. The French authorities on Thursday opened a preliminary investigation into suspected irregularities over the use of third-party agents to win contracts, expanding a UK corruption probe. "This is the result of us self-reporting on observations made on irregularities with respect to business partners," Enders said, adding that the discovery of the irregularities was not a new development. "Not surprisingly they have decided to launch an investigation," he said of the French decision. He said uncovering the irregularities showed "very intensive company investigations" in line with Airbus's compliance codes.<br/>
Thailand is enjoying the highest aviation growth in the world, the state-owned Aeronautical Radio of Thailand says. Thailand's annual growth rate puts it at the top of the list of countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean). The region's aviation growth rate is higher than the global average, Aerothai president Sarinee Saangprasit said. This is the position Thailand must maintain by means of "cooperation" rather than competition with Asean countries that are tipped to have high growth rates in the future, she said. According to Aerothai, the country's annual aviation growth rate has been between 10% and 13%, about two times higher than the regional average of 6.3% in Asean. The numbers are very high, especially when compared with the annual global average of 6.3%, he said. Thailand has the highest share of air traffic volume in the region, with 28%, followed by Singapore with 25%. However, it is expected that Myanmar and Vietnam will be next in line for high growth owing to their dense populations, growing economies and thriving tourism industries. <br/>