China has traditionally split aircraft orders evenly between Airbus SE and Boeing Co. Recently though, there’s been a shift against the American half of the world’s planemaking duopoly. Boeing missed out on a 40-plane deal in September, following an even bigger hit in July, when China ordered nearly 300 Airbus aircraft worth about $37 billion at sticker prices. The misses reinforce how simmering US-Sino political tensions continue to complicate the dealmaking landscape for Boeing, which is also still waiting for its 737 Max to fly again in China. Boeing, which hasn’t signed a major plane deal with China since 2017, took the unusual step of issuing a statement after the July Airbus order was announced. “As a top US exporter with a 50-year relationship with China’s aviation industry, it is disappointing that geopolitical differences continue to constrain US aircraft exports,” Boeing said. “We continue to urge a productive dialogue between the governments given the mutual economic benefits of a thriving aviation industry.” The agreement with Airbus for 292 aircraft from China’s big three state-owned carriers was one of the country’s largest-ever orders. The subsequent $4.8b deal in September was to supply 40 jetliners to Xiamen Airlines, a China Southern Airlines unit that previously only operated Boeing planes.<br/>
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FedEx Express pilots and management on Wednesday said they have jointly filed for federal mediation with the National Mediation Board for assistance with contract negotiations that began in May 2021. The Air Line Pilots Association said the filing is necessary to seek expedited mediation under the Railway Labor Act. More than 100 off-duty FedEx pilots held an informational picket in New York last week. Both sides said they have successfully resolved 8 of 12 contract sections but the union said "significant gaps remain in critical economic sections including retirement and pay rates." FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp, said the parties have "only a handful of unresolved issues in the remaining open sections." FedEx Express added that mediation will have no impact on company operations or its ability to provide service. "We are optimistic that involvement of a federal mediator will assist the parties in expediting the negotiation process and, ultimately, resolving the few remaining issues," said FedEx Express Senior Vice President for Air Operations Don Dillman. He said that the company is hopeful mediation will help "reach an agreement that is fair and reasonable to pilots, other FedEx employees, our customers, and our stakeholders."<br/>
About 34kg of rhinoceros horns worth around S$1.2m were intercepted at Changi Airport on Tuesday in the largest seizure of rhinoceros horns in Singapore to date. The horns were detected by officers from airport security and the National Parks Board's (NParks) K9 unit. They found 20 pieces of the horns in two transit baggage bound for Laos. The bags' owner, who was travelling through Singapore from South Africa, was arrested immediately, said NParks on Wednesday. "Rhinoceros are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites) and international trade in rhinoceros horns is prohibited. "Singapore is a signatory to Cites and is committed to international efforts to curb illegal wildlife trade to ensure the long-term survival of these animals," added NParks. Genetic testing is currently being carried out at its Centre for Wildlife Forensics to identify which species of rhinoceros the horns came from. The horns will subsequently be destroyed, NParks said. This is to prevent them from re-entering the market as well as to disrupt the global supply chain of illegally traded rhinoceros horns. Under the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act, an individual in possession of a Cites-scheduled species travelling through Singapore without a valid Cites permit will be liable to a fine of $50,000 per species (not exceeding $500,000).<br/>