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The EASA warned that passenger jets flying through Iranian airspace risk being accidentally targeted by the country’s air-defense systems. “Due to the hazardous security situation, and poor coordination between civil aviation and military operations, there is a risk of misidentification of civil aircraft,” EASA announced Thursday. “Due to the presence of various advanced air-defense systems, it is advised to be cautious.” The Cologne, Germany-based European Union agency added: “The risk to operations is assessed to be HIGH for flight levels below 250,” or 25,000 feet (7,600 meters). The recommendation -- or Conflict Zone Information Bulletin -- is valid until Jan. 16, 2021. The EASA alert comes days after Iran said it mistakenly shot down Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 shortly after take-off in January, killing all 176 aboard.<br/>

Airports body ACI Europe does not expect passenger traffic to regain 2019 levels until 2024 – a year later than in its previous projection. Demand for air travel in Europe is returning “at a slower pace than we had hoped for”, states ACI Europe director general Olivier Jankovec, and this has prompted the trade association to paint a more pessimistic picture of the sector’s recovery from the Covid-19 crisis. Passenger traffic across Europe’s airports fell 93% in June compared with the same month in 2019. While this was a slight improvement from the 98% drop recorded in May, it fell short of ACI Europe’s expectations. The body is now forecasting that only 19% of July 2019’s passenger traffic will be recovered in same month this year, after previously predicting 30%. “This is down to the still-incomplete lifting of travel restrictions within the EU/Schengen area and the UK, as well as the permanence of travel bans for most other countries,” states Jankovec. Passenger numbers at European airports are likely to be down 64% in 2020 compared with last year, while revenues will fall 67%, ACI Europe predicts. It says those flights that have been reinstated across the continent are “generally achieving low load factors” – bad news for airport revenues.<br/>

Pakistani authorities said Thursday they had confirmed the credentials of almost all Pakistani pilots working for foreign airlines, as the country battles a scandal over aviator licences. Airlines in 10 countries had demanded proof of valid flying licences for their Pakistani pilots after it emerged about a third of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) aviators were holding "bogus or suspicious" licences. In all, the foreign airlines asked for proof of 176 Pakistani pilot licences. Of these, 166 "have been validated as genuine and certified by the CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) Pakistan as having no anomaly," the agency said in a statement. The "process for the remaining 10 shall be concluded by next week," it added. Pakistan's aviation minister sent shockwaves through the industry last month by revealing that some 260 pilots had dubious licences.<br/>

Key US House Democrats are backing a push by airline unions for a new round of government bailouts to keep workers employed in the face of tens of thousands of possible layoffs this fall, according to a letter encouraging other colleagues to sign on. In March, Congress approved $32b for the aviation industry to keep workers on payroll through Sept. 30, but as air travel demand remains depressed in the pandemic, airlines have warned of furloughs in October, prompting union calls for a six-month extension of aid. Airlines for America (A4A) said Thursday it is not actively seeking new government assistance but would accept new bailout funds as long as no new strings were attached. Under the first package, airlines agreed to limits on share buybacks and executive compensation, and issued warrants on a portion of the funds that the government can exchange for shares. If Congress enacts labour's proposal, "we would support our workforce’s decision to pursue a simple and clean extension of the grants as long as no additional or extraneous conditions are required," an A4A spokeswoman said. Airlines also agreed not to force any job cuts before October, giving them time to assess the pace of a recovery.<br/>

The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) is planning to enforce a new rule requiring passengers on Thai-owned chartered flights or special flights transitioning through Thailand to have a valid Covid-19 clearance certificate. The requirement will apply even for flights that make a refuelling stop in Thailand without passengers leaving the aircraft, said CAAT director-general Chula Sukmanop. He said the new rule is intended to prevent Thai airlines from being blacklisted by authorities in destination countries in case a Covid-19 infection is discovered on their flights. Chula said that the clearance certificate must be produced before customers buy their tickets. He cited two incidents in which chartered flights to China operated by Thai-registered carriers were facing a temporary ban -- imposed by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) -- upon the discovery of passengers infected with Covid-19. The flights were operated by Thai AirAsia X and Thai Lion Air. The AirAsia flight had originated in Malaysia and was bound for the city of Tianjin; however, it had made stops in Manila and Thailand along the way. Meanwhile, the Thai Lion Air flight took off from Jakarta for Guangzhou and had made a stop at Don Mueang airport. At each destination airport, passengers of both flights went through health checks, which is when some tested positive for Covid-19.<br/>

In-flight magazines have been dogged and dog-eared survivors ever since a bright spark at Pan Am decided to launch the first one in 1952. Of the 150 or so in-flight magazines before lockdown, most claimed pick-up rates of more than 80%, thanks to a captive audience. Such engagement explains why, against a broad decline in print advertising, in-flights have survived the arrival of onboard movies, iPads and in-flight WiFi — just three of the things that many predicted would kill them off. And while the quality of these magazines has fluctuated over the years, some are among the best travel and lifestyle magazines around, from the slick Air Canada enRoute to British Airways’ consistently well-written High Life and the sharp, millennial-friendly easyJet Traveller. But Covid-19 feels like an altogether different level of threat, as contamination fears have led to all but a tiny minority of airlines removing magazines from planes, with many of the agencies that publish them — including the British-born industry leaders Ink, Cedar and Spafax — forced to cut editorial staff. Cedar, the publishers of High Life and Business Life for BA, as well as magazines for Iberia, Aer Lingus and Cathay Pacific, is unable to confirm whether any of its titles will appear on planes this year. High Life will print some copies in September for use in lounges, and content will be emailed to frequent flyers, but a restructure has meant respected staff losing jobs. Story has more.<br/>