Nashville International Airport reopened Concourse C on Sunday after it was briefly evacuated due to the presence of a “noxious odor,” officials said. The evacuation was ordered after the odor was reported around 2:40 p.m., the airport said on its official Twitter account. The Metropolitan Nashville Fire Department conducted an air quality test and determined there were no contaminants, the statement said. The concourse was reopened about two hours later and officials said they would continue to monitor the situation. The Federal Aviation Administration issued a brief ground stop to facilitate resuming safe operations, the statement said. The fire department said one person was taken to a hospital with unspecified but non-life-threatening injuries, WSMV-TV reported. Travelers were encouraged to check with airlines about any flight changes.<br/>
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The UK aviation sector expects growth in demand for flying to slow in the coming decades because of higher ticket prices, as the industry turns to expensive new technologies to try to cut its carbon emissions. UK airlines, airports and aerospace manufacturers have committed to reaching net zero emissions by 2050, and insist that aviation can continue to grow even while the industry decarbonises. But in a report published on Monday, a coalition of the industry’s biggest companies also acknowledged that their future growth would be slowed by the higher costs associated with reducing emissions, including moving to cleaner and more expensive fuels, and carbon emissions trading schemes. “The increased cost of decarbonising aviation will inevitably reduce passenger demand,” the Sustainable Aviation group said. Industry executives have modelled an increase in ticket prices of between 10 and 20% to help fund the transition away from the reliance on heavily polluting fossil fuels, according to one person familiar with the details. The report said that nonetheless “people will still want to fly” and estimated there would be 250mn extra passenger journeys a year by 2050. Matt Gorman, the chair of Sustainable Aviation and a senior Heathrow executive, said there would be a “green premium” attached to flying in the future. “As an industry we have always supported the idea that the polluter pays . . . and that the industry and ultimately air passengers should pay the carbon costs of travel,” he said. Sustainable Aviation set out new details of how it expected to reduce carbon emissions from flights departing the UK by almost 70mn tonnes a year to reach net zero by 2050. It said demand reduction because of the “green premium” attached to flying would represent about 14% of the industry’s total reduction in carbon emissions. Nearly 40% would come from switching to more sustainable fuels, which emit about 70% less carbon than conventional jet fuel over their lifecycle, with further reductions from improved airspace operations, more efficient conventional engines and offsets.<br/>
Russian transportation group FESCO (FESH.MM) said on Friday that it has opened a direct air route to import electronic goods from Hong Kong to Moscow as Russian businesses seek to end their reliance on Western supply chains. The West moved to curb technology exports to Russia after Moscow sent troops into Ukraine last year, while several leading manufacturers pulled out of the Russian market, putting pressure on domestic consumer electronics and technology providers. Leading consumer electronics chain M.Video-Eldorado saw sales fall in 2022, hit by sharply rising prices and general uncertainty. Russia's largest private transportation and logistics company, FESCO said the first shipment under the new route was dispatched from Hong Kong at the end of March. "The group plans to increase cargo traffic on this route, add new destination airports, and increase the customer base of the FESCO air service by attracting major domestic electronics distributors," it said.It takes up to three days for goods to be delivered from a temporary storage warehouse in Hong Kong to their destination in Moscow, it said, with two to three shipments planned per week. Russian retailers have increased their sales of electronics from countries that have not imposed sanctions on Russia, such as China, Turkey and India.<br/>
Sudan’s civil aviation authority has notified that airspace over the country is closed, with a suspension of air navigation services within the Khartoum flight information region. The measure follows the conflict between government and paramilitary forces which broke out on 15 April and which has included attacks at Khartoum airport that have damaged aircraft. NOTAM information issued on behalf of the Sudanese regulator states that “due to security reasons” air navigation services are “not available” within Khartoum FIR and also above 24,500ft over neighbouring South Sudan. According to the Rapid Support Forces, the paramilitary group involved in the conflict, stated on 15 April that it was in control of “air navigation in all of Sudan”. Pan-European air navigation organisation Eurocontrol has advised operators intending to transit Khartoum FIR that – according to Cairo area control centre – the airspace is shut and unable to produce NOTAMs. Eurocontrol is advising carriers to gather information, including conflict zone information bulletins, and take into account all relevant information to make risk assessments. Saudia and SkyUp Airlines have already disclosed that aircraft in their fleets have been caught up in the situation at Khartoum, and several other aircraft have reportedly been damaged.<br/>
Nigeria's airports face two days of disruption from Monday as aviation workers stage a second strike this year in protest over working conditions and wages, unions said on Friday. The country's aviation industry is facing problems, including poor facilities, jet fuel shortages that often ground domestic flights and a lack of foreign currency that has seen international carriers failing to repatriate their ticket sales. Unions representing pilots, engineers, control tower operators and other airport workers said in a notice dated Friday that they would boycott work on Monday and Tuesday citing outstanding arrears and a decision by the federal government to demolish the Lagos offices of some aviation agencies to pave way for airport expansion. "All aviation workers are hereby directed to withdraw all services in the sector on April 17 and 18 as warning strike," the unions said. "Should the warning strike fail to achieve the desired results, an indefinite strike shall ensue. All workers should comply and all state councils and branch executive members shall enforce this directive without compromise." An aviation ministry spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment. The strike notice has been signed by the National Union of Air Transport Employees, the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals, the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers, and the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees.<br/>
China launched a weather satellite on Sunday as civilian flights altered their routes to avoid a Chinese-imposed no-fly zone to the north of Taiwan which Beijing put in place because of the possibility of falling rocket debris. Taiwan's transport ministry said Beijing had initially notified Taipei it would impose a no-fly zone from Sunday to Tuesday but later said that period had been reduced to 27 minutes on Sunday morning after Taiwan protested. The no-fly announcement rattled regional nerves as it followed shortly after China staged new war games around Taiwan, which Beijing views as sovereign Chinese territory. The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, China's main contractor for its space programme, said the weather satellite Fengyun 3G had successfully launched from the northwestern province of Gansu at 9:36 a.m. (0136 GMT). The satellite then entered its set orbit, the contractor said, describing the launch as a "complete success". The Fengyun 3G is a low-earth orbit satellite designed to track rainfall.It did not say what the flight path of the Long March 4B rocket carrying the satellite was, but the time coincides with China's previous announcement about the no-fly zone. China has said it is inaccurate to call it a no-fly zone, though Taiwan has issued a notice to airmen, or NOTAM, that uses the wording "airspace blocked due to aerospace flight activity". Taiwan's defence ministry said some debris from the rocket launch had fallen into the "warning zone" off the island's northern coast, but it did not affect Taiwan's territorial safety.<br/>
Thailand’s civil aviation regulator will accelerate approvals for airlines seeking to add planes to boost capacity and cool air fares that have soared in recent months with a rapid recovery in tourism, according to government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha has ordered the transport ministry to supervise domestic air fares and ensure travelers were not overcharged, Anucha said in a statement on Saturday. Ticket prices soared as domestic passenger volume jumped 85% in the first quarter from a year earlier, while international traffic surged about 54% and airlines were unable to expand their fleets, Anucha said. The government will help carriers increase the number of seats on both domestic and international routes in line with market demand, which may also allow them to reduce ticket prices, Anucha said. The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand is in the process of approving requests by the local units of Lion Air, VietJet Air JSC and Thai AirAsia to add more jets to their fleets, Anucha said. THAI has sought permission to operate six more aircraft, he said. The aviation regulator will monitor air fares and hold regular meetings with airlines to ensure reasonable ticket prices, Anucha said, urging people to book their tickets in advance to avoid paying exorbitant prices. Thailand has seen a better-than-expected recovery in foreign tourists this year with the Southeast Asian nation forecasting full-year arrivals to total about 30m, more than double the 11.2m last year. That has sent prices of hotel rooms, air tickets and food soaring, prompting authorities to caution operators against overcharging visitors. <br/>
Boeing’s warning that a production quality problem will delay deliveries of its best-selling 737 Max is another headache for airlines clamoring for new planes to handle a rebound in air travel, just ahead of the peak season. The problem is related to two of several brackets in the aft fuselage of some 737 Max planes, including the most popular model, the Max 8. Boeing has a backlog of 4,196 Max planes, according to a tally on its website. Boeing disclosed the production issue on Thursday but has not said how many planes are affected or how long deliveries could be delayed. The current delivery schedule of the planes stretches to the second half of the decade. The fuselage supplier, Spirit Aerosystems, Boeing and the FAA said the problem doesn’t affect flight safety. But addressing the issue could mean time-consuming additional work. The two brackets in question are on the interior of the plane and are not as simple to reach as a concern on the outside of the fuselage would be, according to a person familiar with the matter. Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun will likely comment on the issue during the company’s annual shareholder meeting on Tuesday. Boeing disclosed the issue just weeks after an executive said it was gearing up to increase output of the jets from the current rate of 31 a month. Lengthy delays would be bad news for airlines already hamstrung by a global shortage of new aircraft. They could also hurt Boeing’s plan to improve cash flow, since airlines pay the bulk of a plane’s price upon delivery. “It doesn’t sound like it is going to be a terribly invasive fix, but on the other hand I think everyone’s a bit spooked because of recent experience,” said Richard Aboulafia, managing director of AeroDynamics Advisory. Southwest Airlines, which operates an all-Boeing 737 fleet, said it discussing the affects of the problem with the manufacturer. “Boeing contacted us regarding an issue with a supplier’s manufacturing process that will affect the delivery of Boeing 737 MAX planes to Southwest,” the company said in a statement Thursday. “We expect this to impact our current delivery schedule; we are in discussions with Boeing to understand what that impact will be in 2023 and beyond.”<br/>
Boeing’s executives had a golden opportunity to talk up the planemaker’s turnaround at its annual shareholder gathering Tuesday. Instead, they’ll be in damage control mode — again. The company is grappling with a manufacturing issue affecting its cash-cow 737 jetliner, which has temporarily brought some deliveries to a halt. While it’s too soon to know the full repercussions of the setback, one thing is clear: Boeing is in for a rocky few months. Disruptions at the planemaker’s factory and with its supplier base come just as Boeing was cranking up 737 output in an effort to boost cash flow. United Airlines Holdings Inc., Southwest Airlines and Ryanair Holdings Plc. are among the airlines counting on deliveries of those workhorse jets for the busy summer travel season. And CEO Dave Calhoun is working to keep the trust of investors, some of which he only recently won over after years of crises and snafus. “This is another loss of credibility and trust in Boeing production quality and standards,” said aviation consultant Mark D. Martin. Calhoun is expected to address the issue head on during Tuesday’s virtual annual meeting. He’ll be in front of investors again on April 26 for first-quarter results. It’s a reminder that even as demand soars for air travel and new jetliners, investors are still skittish. Before the issue was disclosed after-market on Thursday, Boeing shares had surged about 49% since November, when Calhoun said he was working to triple the company’s yearly free cash flow to $10b by the middle of the decade. Shares rose again April 11 when the planemaker announced first-quarter deliveries that beat rival Airbus SE, the first in nearly five years. On Friday, Boeing stock dropped 5.6% to $201.71, the biggest decline in more than six months. The new 737 problem involves two of the eight fittings where the jet’s vertical stabilizer is attached to the rear of its fuselage. A contractor, Spirit AeroSystems Holdings Inc., discovered that since 2019 two of its suppliers for the fittings — but not a third — had at times used non-standard manufacturing processes, according to Cai Von Rumohr, an analyst at Cowen & Co.<br/>
Airbus doubled down on its investment in China during a state visit by French President Emmanuel Macron, as the European aerospace firm seeks to widen its lead over rival Boeing in the critical aviation market.<br/>At the start of April on the sidelines of a meeting between President Xi Jinping and Macron, Airbus said it would double the capacity at its A320 family assembly plant in Tianjin and strengthen access to the world’s second-largest aviation market as domestic travel in China nears a return to pre-pandemic levels. Airbus has three other A320 family final assembly sites worldwide: Hamburg, Germany; Toulouse, France; and Mobile, US. China also agreed to buy 150 A320 and 10 A350-900 widebody commercial aircraft from Airbus. The announcements came amid worsening trade relations between China and the US that have essentially locked American aerospace manufacturer Boeing out of the world’s second-largest economy. Airbus expects huge growth in the Chinese aviation market in the next 20 years. The European aerospace firm predicts that China’s air traffic will grow by 5.3% annually, significantly faster than the world average of 3.6%. This will lead to a demand for 8,420 passenger and freighter aircraft by 2041, representing more than 20% of the world’s total demand for around 39,500 new aircraft in the next 20 years.<br/>Boeing has expressed a similar level of optimism, expecting China will require 8,485 new planes to serve passengers and trade until 2041.<br/>What is Airbus’ presence in China? Airbus counts China as a “strategic partner” and a key customer for its passenger jets and helicopters having first established an official presence in China in 1994. Since 2008, Airbus has been assembling its narrow-body A320-family planes in the northern Chinese city of Tianjin.<br/>
FedEx’s unionized pilots will begin voting next week whether to authorize a strike, ratcheting up pressure in contract negotiations that have dragged on longer than expected. The vote on strike authorization for the almost 6,000 pilots at FedEx’s Express unit will begin on April 18, according to a statement late Friday by the Air Line Pilots Association. The contract talks have been going on since May 2021. “We do not make a decision like this lightly, but we intend to send a strong and unified message to management that our pilots are willing to go the distance to achieve the contract we have earned,” said Chris Norman, chair of the FedEx ALPA Master Executive Council. FedEx said in a statement that it’s “still in productive negotiations” with the pilots’ union and calling for a vote won’t impact any services. Authorizing a strike is a common step in labor bargaining and can help increase the urgency of talks. FedEx pilots, though, fall under the Railway Labor Act, which doesn’t allow for the union to unilaterally declare a strike. The law requires the National Mediation Board to attempt to bring the two parties together and there is no set time for how long that takes. FedEx and the union have been in mediated talks since October. A pilots’ strike would be the first for FedEx and could threaten plans by new CEO Raj Subramaniam to cut $4b in costs by 2025. With the exception of drivers at one Freight-unit facility, pilots are the only group that has unionized at FedEx, according to the company’s annual report. The courier’s main rival, United Parcel Service Inc., has the largest private unionized workforce in the US. “It’s time for FedEx management to get serious at the bargaining table and conclude negotiations with an agreement our pilots will support,” Norman said. <br/>