Airbus planemaking chief Fabrice Bregier plans to leave the aerospace group after the board intervened to resolve tensions over the future succession to CE Tom Enders, sources familiar with the matter said Thursday. Bregier will be replaced in February at the helm of the main planemaking division by Guillaume Faury, the head of Airbus Helicopters, who is not, however, expected to inherit Bregier's broader title as COO, they added. The shake-up, to be announced before markets open Friday, was agreed at a board meeting Thursday following weeks of tensions inside the aerospace group. It comes a day after a source told Reuters a change of governance could not be excluded before end-year. Wednesday, Bregier said he was "surprised" by reports that his position was under threat. <br/>
general
When a 17-year-old Bollywood actress took to social media this week alleging she was sexually assaulted on an airplane, she appeared to catch the airline industry off-guard. The incident highlights a risk to airlines: they need to do more than just respond once an incident goes public and their brand comes under fire. Last year, according to IATA, airlines globally reported just 211 instances of "inappropriate sexual behaviour". That's among 3.8b passengers on more than 40m flights. IATA said fewer than half those cases were reported to the authorities, which is why there are so few police investigations. "Victims are required to press charges, the airline can't do that for them," said a spokeswoman for the US Association of Flight Attendants. "We believe under-reporting occurs." <br/>