Global airline traffic results for May showed that demand rose 7.7% compared with the same month last year, indicating a slowing of passenger traffic growth from the 10.9% recorded in April but still well ahead of 5- and 10-year average rates, according to statistics released Thursday by IATA. Capacity climbed 6.1% and load factors rose 1.2 percentage points to 80.1%, marking a record high for the month. All regions, excluding the Middle East and North America, posted record-high May load factors. After adjusting for inflation, airfares at the start of Q2 averaged 6% lower than a year ago. IATA estimates that the fall in fares contributed to approximately two-fifths of the annual growth in passenger traffic seen in May. However, the degree of fare stimulus amounted to about half that seen in the second half of 2016. <br/>
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The dispute over a travel agreement between the US and Gulf carriers is heating up, with the 3 largest US airlines pushing the Trump administration to revisit the deal. The US has roughly 120 so-called Open Skies agreements with countries all around the world; each allows almost unfettered access to locations in each country. The largest American carriers say that airlines in the Middle East are not holding up their end of the Open Skies agreements by accepting billions of dollars in subsidies from their govts. “No normal business can do what the Gulf carriers are doing; the airlines would not exist if not for these subsidies. That’s trade 101. These are issues that the administration understands, they addressed how they feel about trade cheating during the campaign,” said a spokeswoman for the Partnership for Open & Fair Skies. <br/>
The FAA will award US$335.3m in airport infrastructure grants to a total of 237 US airports beginning in July, including $32.5m in discretionary spending to 5 airports, the US DoT said Thursday. US airports are entitled to a certain amount of airport improvement program (AIP) grants every year, DoT said, based on passenger volume. Discretionary funds are provided as supplements if an airport’s capital project exceeds its entitlement. AIP grants will be issued by to airports “in time to take advantage of the spring and summer construction season,” DoT said. “The grants will ensure the projects at these airports are either under construction or completed prior to the onset of the winter season, which comes early in late fall in some parts of the country.” <br/>
The European Court of Justice has said that airlines cannot levy additional charges if a consumer cancels a flight. German judges asked the court to rule on Air Berlin's refund policy and disclosure of additional taxes. Airlines were ordered Thursday by Europe's top court to increase the transparency of their airfares by individually disclosing taxes, airport fees and other charges levied to consumers. The EJC also ruled that carriers can no longer levy extra charges against customers who either miss or cancel their flights. The ruling means airlines can no longer hide those additional charges in the airfare or cancellation fees. The case relates to a complaint about Air Berlin's policy of charging a E25 cancellation fee on the amount to be reimbursed if a traveller cancels, or does not take their flight. <br/>
Paris Charles de Gaulle airport is installing a radar system developed to counter the threat of stray unmanned aerial vehicles. The system, branded 'Gamekeeper', is being supplied by UK-based Aveillant. Aveillant chief David Crisp says the equipment is operating in Singapore and Monaco and has been shown to detect small unmanned aerial vehicles at a range of 5km. "We are showing the technology is ready right now that can help prevent accidents," he adds. "We shouldn't have to wait for an aircraft to hit a drone to put these measures in place." French air navigation service DSNA will use the system as part of its 'Hologarde' strategy against drone intrusion. <br/>
Over the first 6 months of 2017, Munich Airport posted the best half-yearly figures in its history: with the 21m passengers handled during that period, the airport topped the 20m mark for the first time. That number matches the full-year figure for 1999. In relative terms, passenger traffic was up by around 6% as compared with the same period in 2016. As in the previous year, the airport again had a 4% increase in total take-offs and landings to approximately 200,000. The airport says its substantial traffic increases are largely down to the strength of its European traffic segment, which rose 8% year-on-year. Passenger traffic in the intercontinental segment and on domestic routes was up by 6% and 4%, respectively. <br/>