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The Dutch government is taking Russia to the European Court of Human Rights over the downing nearly six years ago of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over eastern Ukraine. The Netherlands, home to roughly two-thirds of the victims, made the move to provide “maximum support” to individual cases brought to the European court by victims’ relatives, the country’s foreign minister, Stef Blok, wrote in a letter to the Dutch Parliament released Friday. All 298 people on the flight were killed after a Buk surface-to-air missile from territory controlled by pro-Moscow Ukrainian rebels downed the plane on July 17, 2014, when it was on its way from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. “Achieving justice for 298 victims of the downing of Flight MH17 is and will remain the government’s highest priority,” Blok said. “By taking this step today — bringing a case before the European Court of Human Rights and thus supporting the applications of the next of kin as much as we can — we are moving closer to this goal.” Taking Russia to court enables the Netherlands to help the families of victims who are also seeking legal redress, by providing at least some of the evidence they need to prove their claims, Blok said. “Many relatives have begun procedures and have now entered a phase where they need evidence. We have that evidence and providing it to the court by starting this procedure is the best way to help them,” he said.<br/>

American Airlines Group has threatened to cancel some of its orders for Boeing’s troubled 737 MAX jets, people familiar with the matter said, a sign of deepening financial stress in the aviation industry. The carrier has struggled to secure financing for 17 jets it had expected Boeing to deliver this year, some of these people said. American executives told their Boeing counterparts in recent weeks they didn’t have sufficient financing for some of their MAX orders and would have to cancel them unless Boeing helped secure funding for the jets, the people familiar with the matter said. Airlines and plane makers often posture during such negotiations, but the American-Boeing friction marks a twist in the 737 MAX saga. It was American whose push for a new fuel-efficient jet in 2011 helped spur Boeing to develop the MAX, an updated version of its decades-old 737 workhorse, rather than a new single-aisle aircraft. Boeing has been working to help line up financing for American’s MAXs, some of the people said. Under one possible scenario, they said, Boeing’s financing arm could purchase the aircraft and lease them to American, eventually selling the planes and the payment stream to leasing companies. A Boeing spokesman said the plane maker is focused on returning the MAX to commercial service. “It is an unprecedented time for our industry as airlines confront a steep drop in traffic,” he said. “We continue to work closely with our customers to support their operations, while balancing supply and demand with the realities of the market.”<br/>

American Airlines’ pilot union is now reviewing Boeing’s latest 737 Max pilot training draft – a document the union describes as vastly more thorough than previous drafts. The Allied Pilots Association (APA) received the draft in the last two weeks, and though the union still has some concerns, it is pleased with many aspects. “We are in the middle of our review of it. We are not final on anything right now,” says APA communications committee chair Dennis Tajer. “We are very positive that there is a lot more information in this draft than we have seen before.” The FAA is the ultimate authority that will set 737 Max pilot training requirements in the USA. The agency has been working with Boeing to develop Max pilot training standards as part of the jet’s certification. The Max has been grounded since March 2019.<br/>

Boris Johnson is under pressure to strip IAG’s BA of valuable landing slots at UK airports amid concern about the airline’s plan to cut 12,000 jobs, according to a report in the Daily Mail. More than 100 British members of parliament from various political parties are asking the prime minister to reconsider BA’s right to slots at airports such as Heathrow, the newspaper said. The mounting political pressure comes after BA revealed it would cut about 28% of its 42,000 workers as it struggles to survive amid the coronavirus pandemic. The airline holds more than half of the slots -- which give planes the right to take off and land at a certain time -- at Heathrow. The slots, particularly the ones at peak times, can be worth several million pounds each. Union Unite and politicians are pressuring the prime minister, saying that airlines should only be able to keep the slots if they also demonstrate they are being socially responsible and “internally investing” in the business, the newspaper reported.<br/>

JAL and Malaysia Airlines expect to launch a joint business partnership on 25 July, through which the two national carriers will co-operate commercially on flights between Malaysia and Japan. JAL says the airlines will “take on new challenges to further enhance convenience between Japan and Malaysia and allow customers to benefit from more flight choices”. Malaysia Airlines is resuming flights to Japan this month, and the two airlines combined will then offer four weekly services between Kuala Lumpur and Tokyo Narita in July and August, adds JAL. “This initiative will enable MH and JL to enhance their capabilities, and leverage on each other’s strengths,” says the Japanese operator. “The carriers shared best practices and responsibilities are in line with a sustainable business model in the long haul. With JL’s renowned precision in service and offerings, combined with MH’s signature Malaysian hospitality, customers are promised of the best travel experience.” The two airlines will also implement measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19.<br/>

A chartered flight operated by Japan Airlines mainly carrying Japanese businesspeople and their families who had evacuated from China following the novel coronavirus outbreak took off Friday for Guangzhou from Narita Airport. The flight carrying 160 people was organized at the request of the local Japanese chamber of commerce. The return of the business community had been hampered by travel restrictions and fewer flights connecting Japan and China despite the world’s second-largest economy reopening production activities after the epidemic subsided. The Japanese businesspeople had to apply for new visas as China in March introduced a temporary ban on foreign nationals entering the country, including those who held valid visas or residence permits. “I had to communicate with local staff through teleworking and it was tiring. I’m glad to be able to return” to China, said Chutatsu Fukuo, 59, who works for a cosmetic manufacturing company. “I’m happy to be able to work (in China) but worried about a resurgence of the virus that could prevent me from returning to Japan,” said Kyoichi Shibuya, 55, a car trading company employee who was originally scheduled to start working in China three months earlier. Japan has enforced an entry ban on 129 countries and regions amid the coronairus pandemic, with foreign travellers that have been to any of the areas within 14 days of their arrival being turned away. Japanese nationals can return home, but are requested to undergo virus tests and self-quarantine for 14 days.<br/>