The EASA issued a safety information bulletin on Monday saying it was closely monitoring developments related to the coronavirus outbreak in China but the concern does currently warrant an operational directive. "Ensuring business continuity at all levels is an essential part of crisis management. In this particular case, the continuity of the health related activities is directly linked with the continuity of the transport activities as this has a direct impact on availability of required medication, protective equipment and medical experts," EASA said, noting it is actively engaged with the WHO and others.<br/>
general
A Briton who infected at least five people with the new coronavirus in a French ski resort travelled there and back via Geneva airport in Switzerland on Jan. 24 and 28, the Swiss government said Monday. The Federal Office of Public Health said it had not taken additional measures to identify those with whom he may have had contact. The airport is a hub for tourists heading to Alpine ski resorts in France and Switzerland. The airline easyJet said English health authorities had contacted all those who were on board a flight from Geneva to London on Jan. 28 after one of those on board was later diagnosed with the new coronavirus.<br/>
Regular flights between mainland China and at least 13 regional airports in Japan will be completely suspended due to the coronavirus outbreak, operators of the facilities said Monday. Airports in Ibaraki, Nagasaki, Kagoshima and other prefectures will have no direct flights to Shanghai or any other Chinese cities starting Saturday at the latest. “(Cancellations) are beginning to have a major impact on local tourism industries,” transport minister Kazuyoshi Akaba said. The other airports affected are in Sendai, Matsuyama in Ehime Prefecture and Kitakyushu, the transport ministry and other sources said.<br/>
Asian airlines warned of “drastic” cuts in 2020 growth plans because of the coronavirus crisis, adding gloom to an already depleted Singapore Airshow as more firms dropped out. Asia’s top aerospace event is going ahead. But a purpose-built aero exhibition centre is pockmarked with empty spaces reserved for Chinese companies and others skipping the show because of the outbreak, whose death toll exceeds 900. Major suppliers Honeywell and Leonardo joined a list of 70 no-shows on Monday amid concerns related to the new coronavirus, which first erupted in China. Although riddled with hype and pre-packaged announcements, air shows are widely seen as a litmus test of confidence in the aerospace industry and bring together tens of thousands of people to network around cabin mock-ups and arms stalls. But few deals are expected at the Feb 11-16 Singapore event, where the epidemic has triggered new safety measures and cast a shadow over airline profits and demand for airplanes. Fresh evidence of the impact emerged on the eve of the show as UK-based consultancy Ascend by Cirium said the number of flights scheduled to operate to, from and within China had dropped by 24% compared with expectations before the crisis. Worse, the number of flights actually operated was down by half compared with normal seasonal levels as many airlines continued to slash flights below their newly adjusted schedules. That means Asian airlines are bracing for a turbulent 2020. <br/>
Singapore could see a 25% to 30% decline in tourist arrivals and spending this year because of the coronavi rus outbreak, as the industry braces for a worse impact than the 2003 SARS pandemic, the city’s tourism chief said. The city-state is losing about 18,000 to 20,000 tourists a day, and the figures could plummet further if the situation persists for longer, said Keith Tan, CE of Singapore Tourism Board. “The main cry that I’m hearing is ‘help’ right now from the entire tourism industry,” Tan said. “There’s lots of anecdotal evidence of business drying up, but that’s not surprising given how much China contributes to our visitor arrivals.” China accounts for about 20% of Singapore’s tourism intake, the biggest source of visitors ahead of Indonesia and India. China’s ban on outbound tour groups and Singapore’s move to bar Chinese nationals from entering has led to an “evaporation” of a key source of revenue, Tan said.<br/>
The DoT’s watchdog Monday said it will review federal pilot training requirements, a move that comes after two fatal crashes of Boeing’s 737 Max raised questions about increasing automation in aircraft. Pilots in both crashes battled an automated flight-control system that was erroneously activated and repeatedly pushed the planes’ noses down before their fatal dives. Boeing has updated the system to give pilots greater control but the FAA hasn’t yet approved the planes to return to service. The manufacturer faces several more hurdles including a certification flight with the FAA, before regulators will sign off on the jetliners, which have been grounded since last March after the second of the two crashes. Pilots complained that they didn’t even know the flight-control system, known as MCAS, was included in the planes until after the first crash — Lion Air Flight 610 in Indonesia. “These fatal accidents have drawn widespread attention to FAA’s oversight and certification practices, including the Agency’s process for establishing pilot training requirements for the aircraft,” the department’s Office of Inspector General said in a statement. The office will review how the FAA formulates pilot training requirements as well as how international regulators design their training requirements “regarding the use of flight deck automation.” The FAA said it welcomed the audit. “Raising and harmonizing pilot training standards across the globe are among the FAA’s top aviation safety priorities,” it said.<br/>
Boeing's 737 Max could be flying again before too long. On Thursday, Stephen Dickson, the administrator of the FAA, said a crucial test flight could occur in the coming weeks, setting in motion the complex process of ungrounding the plane. He also revealed that there was yet another problem with the Max: an indicator light that erroneously activated because of an issue with the flight control computer. Boeing is working to resolve the issue, which the company said it did not believe would cause further delays. Given the approaching test flight, and barring significant new problems, airlines like Southwest, American and United may be able to stick to their plans to use the Max this summer. Story covers what has to happen first, including: 1) Outstanding issues on the Max must be addressed 2) The FAA will fly the plane 3) Training for pilots must be decided. <br/>
Boeing said Tuesday that lessor BBAM had ordered three 737-800 converted freighters to serve the growing e-commerce market and express sectors of the air cargo market. The planes to be converted will come from BBAM's existing fleet. "This agreement shows how we can serve our customers by delivering efficient and reliable airplanes and a portfolio of services that extracts value throughout the life of those jets," said Ihssane Mounir, a Boeing senior VP. Boeing also said it would inaugurate a 737-800 passenger to freighter conversion line in China this summer. The new line will be at Guangzhou Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Company, a joint venture between China Southern and Hutchison Whampoa.<br/>