Mitsubishi Aircraft Corp. is looking to display its new regional aircraft at the Paris Air Show in June as it seeks more overseas orders for Japan’s first passenger jet after delaying the plane’s debut five times. The company is working out details on how it can pull one of four aircraft currently undergoing flight testing in the US for the show, without causing further delays to deliveries, said Hisakazu Mizutani, who became president of Mitsubishi Aircraft this month. The planemaker expects to come to a decision soon on whether to show the aircraft at the event, he said. “There’d be merit in taking it to the show,” Mizutani said Wednesday. “We just need to make sure it doesn’t affect the testing process in doing so.” The Paris show, happening once every two years, alternates with the Farnborough Air Show in the UK as the aviation industry’s biggest event where new models go on display and plane orders are announced. The aircraft known as the Mitsubishi Regional Jet is set for completion in 2019 with its first delivery a year later. It will compete in the market for passenger jets with fewer than 100 seats, a segment currently dominated by Bombardier and Embraer.<br/>
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Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is forecast to take the 2016 title as the “World’s Busiest Airport.” It would mark the 19th consecutive year Atlanta's airport counted more passengers than any other airport on the planet. That’s according to the preliminary full-year passenger numbers for 2016 released Wednesday by the Airports Council International (ACI) trade group. Though preliminary, the rankings are unlikely to change when the “final” numbers are confirmed later this year. As for Atlanta, not only did it hold on to the top ranking, but it also counted more than 100 million passengers for the second year in a row. Atlanta became the first airport in the world to break that threshold in 2015, when it processed 101.5 million passengers. The passenger count rose again by 2.6% in 2016, jumping to 104.2 million fliers, according to ACI’s preliminary numbers. Atlanta (airport code ATL) also remained the world’s busiest airport as measured by “aircraft movements,” another count of how busy an airport is. “Movements” refers to the number of takeoffs and landings at an airport. Atlanta had briefly lost the title for most movements to Chicago O’Hare in 2014, but surged back past its Illinois rival in 2015 and appears set to retain the title again in 2016. While each count is legitimate, the passenger tally is the most traditional barometer for determining the busiest airports.<br/>
Some NFL teams may have to alter their travel schedules as airlines balk at providing charter flights. Others seem to have little or no concern. Several airlines have indicated they are either diminishing their presence in the charter flight area or are shifting those planes to commercial flights. The Pittsburgh Steelers say they are one of the clubs told that American Airlines has ended their charter agreement. “We are in the process of figuring out what charter or airline service we will be utilizing this upcoming season,” team spokesman Burt Lauten said. American also is dropping charters for the Baltimore Ravens, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars and Arizona Cardinals for the upcoming season. But American, which has a hub in Dallas, is not dropping the Cowboys. It also is continuing its partnership with the Carolina Panthers. The Cardinals said: “We are confident that our air travel needs will be met and (American’s withdrawal) won’t affect our plans in any way.”<br/>While many other teams say their charter transportation situations are status quo, several would not comment when asked by the AP.<br/>
Shuttle service to dozens of gates at Orlando International Airport was shut down for more than three hours, creating long lines and forcing some airlines to hold flights. Airport officials tweeted that shuttle service to Gates 1 to 59 at the airport was interrupted Wednesday morning for more than three hours before being restored. The service is provided by trams that connect the airport's entrance and baggage handling areas with its 129 gates. Buses transported some travellers to their gates, and the airport opened a walkway between the gates and the main terminal building. Airport officials said airlines held some flights for affected passengers.<br/>
A man and woman were detained at an airport in southwest China on Tuesday for brawling on the tarmac as they were boarding their flight, which was delayed for half an hour, a local news portal reports. The incident happened at Kunming airport in Yunnan province as they were boarding a China Eastern Airlines flight to Chengdu, Sichuan province, that was parked on the tarmac, Yunnan.cn reported, citing airport authorities. Police said the two passengers were husband and wife, who were in the course of divorce negotiations when the fight broke out. The couple started to quarrel after stepping off an airfield passenger bus. While other passengers boarded the plane, the pair lingered at the foot of the aircraft steps and eventually broke into a fight, according to witnesses. The woman was pinned on the ground by the man, whose shirt was torn off by the woman. When they stopped fighting, the couple tried to board the plane but the captain refused and called airport security instead.<br/>