Ten leading US airlines have been urged to cap airline fares for people fleeing Hurricane Maria. Bill Nelson, a Democrat senator from Florida, has written to the airlines' CEs, asking them to prevent fares spiralling as the hurricane approaches. Fares soared in the days leading up to Hurricane Irma as it bore down on the Caribbean, Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. Flights, which would normally have cost only a few hundred dollars, went on sale for several thousand dollars as aircraft filled up. Airlines were accused of price gouging, with several members of Congress calling on Elaine Chao, the US transportation secretary, to hold an investigation. United's prices appeared to be particularly high, with the airline quoting $6,785 for a trip from Miami to Denver. The airline, however, said the price was quoted in error, citing a computer glitch and denied exploiting the crisis. Eventually carriers bowed to public pressure and agreed to cap fares. To avoid a repetition Nelson sent letters to the heads of American, United, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, Spirit, Alaska, Hawaiian, Frontier and Allegiant. <br/>
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Each month the DoT announces the percentage of domestic flights that arrived on time, and the number has generally been rosy so far this year, ranging from 76 to 83% of the flights tracked. But that record is not likely to continue. Starting in 2018, the government will finally begin counting flights operated by smaller carriers and the major airlines’ regional partners, most of which are not currently included in the monthly statistics. Since those flights are more prone to delays — and account for more than half of all domestic flights — the industry’s overall on-time record is expected to fall. “It’s going to come down really dramatically, and it’s also going to change the way the big carriers treat their regional partners,” said Charles Leocha, chairman of Travelers United and a member of the Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protection, which recommended the DoT improve its flight data. “I think it’s going to provide consumers with a much more realistic view of how the major airlines are working,” Leocha said. In recent years, Delta and American and United have increasingly relied on regional partners like Republic and Mesa Airlines to operate flights from their main hubs to smaller airports. These flights are sold by the major carriers (through brands like Delta Connection, American Eagle or United Express), so some passengers may not realize that they are flying on a different carrier — or that if the flight is late, it may not be counted in the government’s statistics. But that skews the on-time rankings that the DoT publishes each month, and misleads passengers about how well each carrier meets its schedule.<br/>
A blackout at Panama's main international airport -- a major hub for Latin America -- caused more than 200 flights to be cancelled and many others delayed Monday, airport officials said. A malfunction in a circuit panel distributing power internally to the facility was to blame, according to the airport authority, which set up a "crisis room" to handle the disruption. Thousands of frustrated passengers faced lines and clogged halls as harried airport staff struggled before blanked-out check-in screens. Buses ferried some stranded passengers to Panama hotels to spend the night, but many more were left to sit on the floor with their bags next to them. According to the website FlightAware, which tracks cancelations by airport, around 20 percent of flights departing from Panama's Tocumen International Airport were scrapped. The aeropuertos.net flight information website said that more than 200 arriving or departing flights were canceled. National carrier Copa Airlines was hardest hit, saying in a statement that it "was forced to cancel around 140 of our flights." Late in the day, operations started to be restored, with more flights taking off, but backlogs continued.<br/>
Airways is putting in measures to help save fuel but warns planes may be held on the ground longer. Airways is using technology able to queue aircraft arrivals and departures at New Zealand's main airports in the most efficient way to avoid air traffic congestion across the network and reduce fuel burn. Airways estimates the amount of fuel the sequencing measures could save would enable nine more return flights from Auckland to Wellington daily. Flights are being delayed and cancelled because a pipeline bringing aviation fuel from Marsden Pt was ruptured by a digger last week. Airways acting general manager of system operations Tim Boyle said under normal conditions, the sequencing technology saved about 11,500 tonnes of fuel a year. "Due to the current fuel shortage, we're enhancing this capability to reduce consumption as much as possible." Aircraft departing major airports will be held on the ground with engines off until they can be given an optimum departure slot that allows them the most uninterrupted and efficient route to their destination. Air traffic controllers will also give priority take-offs and landings to larger and heavier aircraft, which burn the most fuel.<br/>
China’s aviation authority will relax its rules on using mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets during flights, allowing individual airlines to decide on their own rules. The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) announced a fifth revision to government aviation regulations on Monday, paving the way for airlines to make their own assessments on the use of portable electronic devices – which are currently prohibited on Chinese airlines. The regulatory body has also developed an approval process for the airlines’ assessments. “I believe that in the near future, you will see China’s airline companies allowing the use of relevant portable electronic devices,” said Zhu Tao, deputy director of the CAAC. The aviation rules were revised for the fourth time in April last year, and existing rules bar passengers from switching on or operating PEDs during flights. Banned devices included mobile phones, walkie-talkies and remote control toys.<br/>
US Customs and Border Protection will launch a new website in October to incorporate a branding transition from Global Online Enrollment System to the Trusted Traveler Programs System, the agency said Sept. 18. “This new Trusted Traveler Programs website reflects CBP’s continued focus on leveraging advanced technology and innovation,” acting CBP Commissioner Kevin McAleenan said. “We remain committed to improving and modernizing the international arrivals process for the more than 300m travelers who arrive at US ports of entry each year.” CBP said the new website will “[make] the process of applying for or managing a Trusted Traveler membership more user-friendly and will improve and better facilitate the [user] experience.” In addition to Global Entry, the site will also direct applicants towards enrolling and maintaining membership in the NEXUS, SENTRI and FAST programs. NEXUS is a joint border clearance program between the US and Canada. SENTRI is a dedicated lane program at southern land border ports of entry. The FAST (free and secure trade) program is a commercial clearance program for known low-risk shipments entering the US from Canada and Mexico. CBP said there are now over 7 million members enrolled in its trusted traveler programs, with nearly 17,300 new applications per month. The new website is being created to meet the demand, which CBP promises will offer “enhance the CBP trusted traveler online experience.” The revised site will also be reconfigured for usage on mobile devices.<br/>
Russia's Interstate Aviation Committee has re-ignited a rift with federal air transport regulator Rosaviatsia, with an extraordinary attack on its certification capabilities. The Interstate Aviation Committee (MAK) had been relieved of certification authority two years ago after a highly-public clash with Rosaviatsia over the investigation into a Boeing 737 crash in Kazan. Rosaviatsia took over the certification functions. But MAK has accused it of "incompetence" in this field, claiming Rosaviatsia has granted incorrect approvals to the state civil aviation research institute GosNII. MAK says an entity, other than the type certificate holder, intending to modify a certified design in the aviation sector must obtain additional clearances. It adds that "numerous queries" have been raised over the application and interpretation of regulations previously developed by MAK's former certification division. The situation with GosNII has demonstrated "ignorance or misunderstanding" regarding the provision of Russia's aviation certification rules.<br/>
PM Justin Trudeau says Canada won’t buy Boeing fighter jets while the company pursues a trade challenge against Montreal-based Bombardier over its commercial aircraft. Trudeau made his threat to halt what he called Canada’s “significant procurement” of F-18 Super Hornets alongside UK PM Theresa May on Monday. Both leaders are pressing the US firm to drop its challenge of Bombardier’s C Series program. “We won’t do business with a company that’s busy trying to sue us and put our aerospace workers out of business,” Trudeau said. Trudeau’s tough talk comes after the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency’s approval last week of the potential sale of 18 Super Hornets, valued at $5.23b, to the Canadian government. May has raised the issue with US President Donald Trump, as Bombardier is the biggest private employer in Northern Ireland. Canada’s ambassador to Washington said last week that Boeing had walked away from negotiations with the government. Boeing is acting in its own “narrow economic interest to harm a potential competitor,” Trudeau said, adding the challenge “is not in keeping with the kind of openness to trade that we know benefits citizens in all countries.” The planemaker launched its dispute against Canadian rival Bombardier earlier this year, alleging the Canadian government is illegally subsidizing Bombardier’s C Series commercial airliner program and that the planes are being sold in the US at “absurdly low” prices.<br/>