Boeing has told some 737 MAX owners it is targeting US FAA approval of its software fix as early as the third week of May and the ungrounding of the aircraft around mid-July, 2 sources said. The dates are part of a provisional timeline that Boeing has shared in meetings with airline customers as it explains an upgrade to software that played a role in 2 fatal crashes and led to the worldwide grounding of its MAX 737 jetliner in March. However, Boeing has not yet submitted its completed software package to the FAA for approval, 2 other sources said. None of the sources said they knew for sure how long the re-certification process will take. Boeing CE Dennis Muilenburg said last week the company had made the final test flight with the new MAX software before a final certification flight. <br/>
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Plans to replace air passenger duty with a discounted Scottish alternative have been delayed until at least 2020. Scottish ministers want to set up a devolved ADT, and would immediately cut the levy by 50%. However, the plans are tied up in legal issues, and ministers now say they will not be resolved until after April 2020. A group of air industry bosses urged ministers to "get on with it sooner rather than later, or be up front with us that it's never going to happen". A joint statement from groups including Airlines UK and the owners of Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh airports said the govt "needs to be straight with industry". They said: "This was a cast-iron manifesto commitment and they have now failed to implement it 2 years in a row, and in the meantime it is Scottish tourism and connectivity that is suffering." <br/>
Philippines’ Clark International has closed temporarily following a strong 6.1 magnitude earthquake that struck the main island of Luzon the night of April 22. Part of the departure hall’s roof has collapsed, injuring 7, and there are cracks in the control tower. All airlines have halted operations to and from the airport, with over 100,000 passengers affected. Philippines Airlines cancelled about 23 flights April 23. Passengers were transported to the capital’s Manila Ninoy Aquino International. Philippines transport secretary Arthur Tugade said that the airport will open “Wednesday at the earliest or Thursday at the latest”, after authorities assess the structural integrity of the terminal. There was no visible damage to the new Terminal 2 construction, with inspections completed before nightfall. <br/>