Qatar Airways is set for live operations with a new flight-tracking service developed using Aireon’s space-based automatic dependent surveillance capabilities. The airline is the launch customer of the service, branded GlobalBeacon, which was unveiled 2 years ago. GlobalBeacon is being marketed by Aireon in partnership with FlightAware. Qatar Airways had previously stated, shortly after the tie-up between the two companies was disclosed, that it would sign up as the initial customer. Qatar Airways says the new service will provide “permanent minute-by-minute” reporting capabilities. CE Akbar Al Baker says this will “exceed” the requirements and recommendations for ICAO’s global aeronautical distress safety system concept, and that it “seamlessly integrates” with its existing fleet-management system. <br/>
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American Airlines Group will allow people who suffer from peanut and tree-nut allergies to board flights early so they can wipe down areas where they will sit to avoid potential exposure to allergens. The change will take effect Dec 12 when flight-service manuals are updated, American said Tuesday. Complaints over the issue were filed against the carrier last year by Food Allergy Research & Education and a woman whose son has a life-threatening peanut allergy. American said that while carrier doesn’t serve peanuts, it said it can’t guarantee customers won’t be exposed to nuts during flights. About 15m Americans suffer from food allergies, the food-allergy research group said. Wiping down seats, tray tables and arm rests on aircraft can’t be done by allergic passengers during general boarding, the group said. <br/>
Hong Kong's privacy commissioner will launch a compliance investigation into Cathay Pacific Airways over a data breach involving 9.4m passengers, saying the carrier may have violated privacy rules. The airline has faced criticism for the 7-month delay in its October revelation of the breach in the data, which it said had been accessed without authorisation, following suspicious activity in its network in March. "There are reasonable grounds to believe there may be a contravention of a requirement under the law," Hong Kong's Privacy commissioner for Personal Data, Stephen Wong, said. "The compliance investigation is going to examine in detail, amongst others, the security measures taken by Cathay Pacific to safeguard its customers' personal data and the airline's data retention policy and practice," he added. <br/>
Royal Jordanian expects to decide in Q1 next year on an order for over 20 narrow-body aircraft, the airline's CE said Tuesday. The carrier is in talks with Airbus, Boeing, and Embraer for an order of 23 jets to replace and expand its fleet of 19 Airbus A320 family aircraft and Embraer 195 and 175s. "I think right now it’s a head to head race ... and the best offer will win," CE Stefan Pichler said. If the order goes ahead it will come around 2 years after Royal Jordanian launched a turnaround program that helped the airline return to profitability in 2017. Pichler said the restructuring plan was on track and after making US$14.4m in the first 9 months, the airline was set to remain profitable this year. "If we had the same fuel prices as last year we would now be operating with a huge profit margin, but that’s life," he said. <br/>