The World Trade Organisation has reversed a ruling that Boeing received prohibited support for its newest aircraft, dealing a blow to the EU in its long-running row with the US over subsidies. Monday’s decision by WTO appeal judges overturns a ruling which had banned some Washington-state support for plants including a US$1b factory designed to build the world’s largest carbon-composite wings for Boeing’s 777X jet. A WTO panel ruled last year that a reduction in the state’s business and occupation tax in return for a decision to place 777X production in the state had deliberately shut out imports. But its appeals body found the tax breaks had not explicitly targeted trade flows, removing them from the WTO’s most severe category of banned aid known as “prohibited” subsidies. <br/>
general
Over US$2b generated by foreign airlines, as well as funds expended by domestic airlines for aircraft maintenance, spares and emoluments for expatriate workforce, are repatriated annually The chairman/CE of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, who stated this, said that is part of the reason responsible for the continuous weak naira/ dollar exchange rate, adding that a weakened naira adversely affects the economy as it distorts the prices of goods and services. Onyema said the difficulty in repatriating airlines’ funds in the past should serve as a reminder that the country should evolve ways to reduce the amount of money repatriated, by empowering local airlines to operate international routes, and as well facilitate the establishment of maintenance, overhaul and repair facility in Nigeria. <br/>
Sixteen airlines registered in Thailand have failed safety and related regulatory assessments conducted by the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT), requiring them to suspend operations until they get new AOCs, as authorities enforce stricter rules in accordance with requirements of the ICAO. The ICAO is due to send delegates to inspect Thailand’s new aviation safety regulatory system later this month or in early October, after which the agency is expected to consider lifting its “red flag”, which was imposed in 2015 due to safety concerns. According to a govt committee chaired by deputy premier Prawit Wongsuwan, Thai authorities had already issued AOCs to 9 airlines under the new regulatory system, while another 11 airlines were in the process of applying for AOCs. <br/>