Union leaders in Argentina’s aviation industry have said they will fiercely resist incoming President Javier Milei’s plans to privatise the state airline, in an early sign of the tumultuous relationship the libertarian is expected to have with the country’s powerful labour movement. Following his victory in a presidential run-off vote on Sunday, Milei said he aimed to hand over shares in Argentina’s state-owned airline Aerolíneas Argentinas to its workers and reduce the state funding on which it relies. “If he wants to take Aerolíneas, he will have to kill us,” said Pablo Biró, leader of Argentina’s airline pilots’ union, on Wednesday. “And when I say kill, I mean literally: he will have to take dead bodies and I’ll sign up first.” The hard-left Unidad Piquetera social movement has announced plans to lead a march through downtown Buenos Aires on Thursday to oppose Milei’s austerity plans, while its leaders will meet to co-ordinate a “battle plan” for the coming months. Milei’s victory by 11 percentage points in Sunday’s election heralds a sharp shift in political direction for Argentina, following four years of unorthodox economic policy under the left-leaning populist Peronist movement. The country is suffering its worst economic crisis in two decades, with annual inflation topping 142% in October. On Tuesday, Edgardo Llano, head of an aviation workers’ union, said Milei’s plan would mean “signing the death certificate” of Aerolíneas Argentinas, which was nationalised in 2008, “because this company doesn’t work without the contributions of the state”. Milei, who has called former UK prime minister Margaret Thatcher one of his political heroes, has said he intends to privatise “anything that can be in private hands”, including the state energy firm YPF. The hard-right economist has also pledged major and rapid cuts to government spending to eliminate Argentina’s chronic fiscal deficit.<br/>
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The new Mexico State carrier Mexicana de Aviación has faced new troubles and has delayed the launch start, with the possibility of not being able to operate the 20 domestic routes it has advertised initially. On Tuesday, Mexico’s president Andrés Manuel López Obrador revealed that Mexicana de Aviación will not begin flying on December 1, as it was initially announced. Instead, the startup will have to push back its launching date. However, Mexicana de Aviacion is still set to begin flying before the year ends, he promised. Mexicana de Aviación is set to begin operations on December 26, 2023, López Obrador said during a press conference in Mexico City. It is not yet known which route would be the first to be covered by the new carrier, which will operate from Mexico City’s Felipe Ángeles International Airport. Several airline experts have raised their concerns about the new State company, with IATA’s general director even stating there is no natural advantage to being a state-owned airline anymore. The new company is going to be administered by Mexico’s army. Mexicana de Aviación 2.0 is a new iteration of the former Mexicana de Aviación, a company that went bankrupt in 2010. López Obrador’s government acquired the brand, name, and two buildings by paying 816m Mexican pesos.<br/>
Emirates has become the world’s first airline to operate an A380 demonstration flight using 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). The flight on Wednesday, commanded by Captain Khalid Binsultan and Captain Philippe Lombet, took off from Dubai International Airport (DXB) with one of four engines powered on 100% SAF, helping demonstrate its potential as a drop-in replacement that matches jet fuel’s technical and chemical requirements, while being a more sustainable alternative. SAF can reduce carbon emissions by up to 85% over the fuel’s life cycle when compared to conventional jet fuel, according to reports. Demonstration flights pave the way for future standardisation, qualification and adoption for 100% SAF flying, as governments adopt broader strategies to support the production and scale up of SAF. The A380 demonstration flight underlines the performance and compatibility of SAF, making it a safe and reliable fuel source, and contributes to the growing body of research carried out by the industry to evaluate the beneficial effects of 100% SAF on aircraft performance. SAF is currently capped at a 50% blend limit in engines for commercial flights. The Emirates A380 demonstration flight comes as the aviation industry, international organisations, regulatory bodies and high-level officials driving policy-related decisions converge in Dubai for the Third ICAO Conference on Aviation and Alternative Fuels. Dedicated collaborators from Airbus, Engine Alliance, Pratt & Whitney, Neste, Virent and ENOC have been working on the testing, technical assessments and data analysis for today’s flight. <br/>
Air Arabia, the Middle East and North Africa’s first and largest low-cost carrier operator, on Wednesday commenced its first non-stop flight from Ras Al Khaimah, UAE to Kozhikode in Kerala, India. Prior to the inaugural flight, a ceremony took place at RAK International Airport with the attendance of dignitaries, including Engr Sheikh Salem bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Department of Civil Aviation, Ras Al Khaimah; Satish Kumar Sivan, Consul General of India to Dubai and the Northern Emirates; Adel Al Ali, Group CE of Air Arabia; trade partners and other esteemed guests. Engr. Sheikh Salem bin Sultan Al-Qasimi, Chairman of the Department of Civil Aviation and Ras Al Khaimah International Airport, board member of General Civil Aviation Authority & RAK Executive Council, said: “The introduction of this new route underscores Ras Al Khaimah's commitment to advancing its aviation sector and enhancing connectivity. Air Arabia’s new service aligns with our vision of developing Ras Al Khaimah’s regional and international air travel which contributes significantly to the growth of our tourism sector. By providing convenient and affordable travel options for both a flourishing Indian resident community in Ras Al Khaimah as well as a thriving tourist market, we aim to attract more visitors to experience the unique offerings of Ras Al Khaimah.”<br/>
Malaysia’s SKS Airways has hit back at media reports suggesting that it faces financial woes, slamming them as “categorically false and [reeking] of mischief”, as it reiterates its commitment to its “next phase of growth”. The strongly-worded statement, issued 22 November, also comes as the regional airline’s new CE abruptly left the company after only two months at the helm. News broke on 20 November that the carrier was seeking additional funding, and had suspended other scheduled operations to the islands of Redang and Tioman. A report from Malaysia’s New Straits Times alleges the airline was “scrambling” to find funding for its incoming Embraer E195-E2 aircraft, of which SKS has 10 on lease from lessor Azorra. SKS announced commitments for the E2 jets at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition this year, making it the country’s first Embraer operator and among the first few operators of the type in Southeast Asia. It was to have taken its first E2 jet in January next year, but the report suggests it has been delayed to mid-2024 amid funding woes. <br/>
Severe turbulence during a flight this week led to crew members on board being taken to hospital in Australia. The incident occurred on a plane operated by Australian low-cost airline Bonza, flying across the state of Queensland between Rockhampton and the Sunshine Coast on Tuesday. The extent of the injuries and the exact number of people hurt has not been confirmed. The Independent has contacted the airline for further information. Tim Jordan, CE of Bonza, confirmed that no customers were hurt. “A flight from Rockhampton to the Sunshine Coast experienced unexpected and severe turbulence leading some Bonza crew members needing to be assessed at Sunshine Coast University Hospital,” he told The New Daily. The priority “is always the safety of our staff and customers”, Jordan added, stating that staff were able to return home last night. The mid-air fright caused the cancellation of a flight from the Sunshine Coast to Mildura, in Victoria, while the aircraft was assessed. Bonza is a new airline, having only started operations in January 2023. <br/>