Israeli airlines said operations were returning to normal on Sunday after an overnight attack by Iranian missiles and drones closed the airspace and led to flight cancellations. Israel reopened its airspace as of 7:30 a.m. (0430 GMT) on Sunday, though flight schedules from Tel Aviv were expected to be affected and travellers were advised to check flight times before going to Ben Gurion International Airport. Flag carrier El Al said it had resumed operations and was "working to stabilise the flight schedule as soon as possible". "El Al will continue to operate as much as possible to preserve the air bridge to and from Israel," it said. The airline had cancelled 15 flights to Europe, Dubai and Moscow scheduled for Sunday while flights that had taken off from Bangkok and Phuket were forced to return. Smaller Israeli carrier Arkia said it was making adjustments to its flight schedule after initially postponing flights to Athens, Milan and Geneva. According to the airports authority, most flights of foreign carriers have been delayed, including Sunday flights to London by Wizz Air to New Delhi by Air India, to Madrid by Iberia and to Marseille by Air France. El Al's flights to London, Frankfurt, Berlin, Bucharest, Athens, Paris and Rome, and Ethiopian Airline's flight to Addis Ababa were able to take off.<br/>
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Airspace reopened allowing flights throughout the Middle East to resume on Sunday, but dozens of others were canceled after Iran attacked Israel with drones and missiles overnight after a suspected Israeli strike in Syria earlier this month that killed several top Iranian officials. Israel’s El Al canceled more than 20 Sunday flights, though some were still operating. Two El Al flights headed for Israel from Thailand on Saturday had diverted to Bangkok. The carrier told passengers not to come to the Tel Aviv airport until notified. Emirates Airline canceled one of its Dubai-Amman flights which was scheduled for Sunday, but flew two others. Air France and British Airways canceled Tel Aviv flights on Sunday. British Airways also scrubbed a flight to Amman. Lufthansa canceled its service to and from Tel Aviv, Erbil, Iraq and Amman through Monday and plans to resume service on Tuesday, though its Beruit and Tehran flights are suspended until at least Thursday, it said. Some flights avoided large swaths of airspace in the Middle East, reroutes that delayed some planes, Swiss International Airlines said. The reroutes are the latest challenge for airlines that in recent years have had to change flight plans in the wake of Russia’s attack on Ukraine, which can add to flight time and fuel costs. United Airlines, which resumed service to Tel Aviv early last month after suspending Israel flights after the Hamas attacks in October, called off its Newark to Tel Aviv flights on Saturday and Sunday after Israel briefly closed its airspace. Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq had also closed their airspace. “We are closely monitoring the situation and will make decisions on upcoming flights with a focus on the safety of our customers and crews,” United said in a statement. The carrier is the only U.S. airline to have resumed service to Israel since October.<br/>
Several Iranian airports including Tehran's Imam Khomeini International have cancelled flights until Monday, Iranian state media reported on Sunday, as tensions flared in the Middle East with Iran's attack on Israel overnight. Iran launched dozens of drones and missiles at Israel through Saturday night into Sunday as a response to Israel's bombing of its consulate in Syria on April 1, raising fears of a possible Israeli retaliation against Tehran. "All flights from Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport have been cancelled until 6 a.m. (0230 GMT) following an announcement by Iran's Civil Aviation Organisation," the airport's executive told the Iranian Student News Agency. Domestic flights from Tehran's Mehrabad Airport and airports in Shiraz, Isfahan, Bushehr, Kerman, Ilam, and Sanandaj have also been cancelled until Monday morning, according to Iran's Airports and Air Navigation Company, as the country's western airspace remains off limits to flights. Major airlines across the Middle East have announced the cancellation of some of their flights, while having to reroute others.<br/>
Jordan, Iraq and Lebanon have reopened their airspace on Sunday after closing it late on Saturday as Iran launched drone and missile attacks against Israel, the three countries said on Sunday. Jordan's state TV said the country had resumed air traffic operations, citing aviation authorities. The opening of its airspace came more than three hours earlier than scheduled. Iraq's aviation authority said security risks had now been overcome. Lebanon said its airport will resume its activities after the overnight closure, state TV reported. Iran launched explosive drones and fired missiles at Israel late on Saturday - its first direct attack on Israeli territory in a retaliatory strike that raises the threat of wider regional conflict. Jordan, which lies between Iran and Israel, had readied air defences to intercept any drones or missiles that violated its territory, two regional security sources said. U.S. and British warplanes were involved in shooting down some Israel-bound drones over the Iraq-Syria border area, Israel's Channel 12 reported.<br/>
Immigration police received passengers on Israel-bound flights forced to return to Suvarnabhumi airport and allowed them to stay at either a hotel or the airport. The move came as Iraq, Israel and Jordan all closed their airspace, affecting flights to Israel and nearby countries from Saturday evening. Airport immigration police said on Sunday that El Al Israel Airlines informed them that it had to bring two Israel-bound flights back to Thailand due to Iran's attack on Israel. The flights unable to reach Tel Aviv were LY82 (Suvarnabhumi-Tel Aviv) carrying 275 people and LY88 (Phuket-Tel Aviv) with 290 people aboard. They returned at 5.20am and 5.50am respectively on Sunday. According to immigration police, passengers on such returning flights would normally have to stay at the airport because their passports were already stamped for their departure.<br/>
Judges have rejected a compensation claim for nearly E1.6b ($1.7b) brought by Nantes airport’s concessionaire over the termination of the drawn-out Notre-Dame-des-Landes programme. The programme was originally conceived decades ago as a new airport development to address capacity limitations at Nantes Atlantique airport. But the project was mired in controversy and opposition and French prime minister Edouard Philippe declared in January 2018 that, given the deadlock and changes in the transport economy over the years, it would finally be abandoned. Nantes concessionaire Aeroport du Grand Ouest, primarily owned by Vinci, had taken legal action over the cancellation. Aeroport du Grand Ouest insisted that it “must be compensated for damages” resulting from the abandonment, and the “unilateral” modification of the concession. But an administrative court ruled on 10 April that the decision by the government to cancel the airport project was reasonable. “This decision, after the [government] tried for several years to carry out the project planned by the concession despite the strong tensions and opposition expressed, while preserving the various public interests involved, follows considerations of general interest and cannot be considered faulty,” the judgement states. It says the main argument of Aeroport du Grand Ouest, that the government must pay it E1.599b, is “rejected”.<br/>
EasyJet and TUI passengers on flights from Gatwick face having no food or drink as catering workers threaten strike action over a pay dispute. Unite said around 100 Dnata catering staff, including HGV drivers and warehouse workers, are due to walk out over three consecutive weekends. Dnata caters for all EasyJet flights from Gatwick and several other airlines, including TUI. An EasyJet spokesman said: "We will be working with Dnata to ensure contingency plans are in place for these dates should this action take place." Strike action is scheduled to take place on 26-29 April, 3-6 May and 10-13 May. Unite said each Dnata worker has suffered a pay cut of between GBP1,500 and GBP2,000 due to the removal of a shift allowance. The union says the inflight catering firm "falsely" claimed Unite agreed to the removal as part of a deal about night shifts. Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, said members have "run out of patience" with Dnata. She said: "Ending the shift allowance in return for a night premium was never part of the deal and the company knows that." Unite regional officer Dominic Rothwell urged Dnata to "rapidly return" to talks to find a settlement that is "acceptable to members". TUI and Gatwick have been contacted for comment. Dnata Catering UK said it was "surprised and disappointed by the premature statement" by Unite.<br/>
Hong Kong's ban on throwaway plastics will cover meals served by local airlines and all other flights leaving the city once the policy comes into force later this month, environmental authorities have said. The Environmental Protection Department said on Friday that meals offered by city flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways and its budget arm HK Express, as well as Hong Kong Airlines and Greater Bay Airlines, would fall under the policy's dine-in restrictions. The first stage of the ban will take effect on April 22 and prohibits styrofoam products and throwaway plastic utensils, including straws and swizzle sticks. Plastic cups and containers will no longer be available for customers eating at restaurants. Kenneth Cheng Kin, an assistant director with the department, stressed its officers would not penalise businesses that breached the ban during a six-month grace period.<br/>
A man attempting to shoot his wife at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Sunday instead left her personal bodyguard in critical condition, Malaysian authorities said. Police were investigating the rare shooting in connection to a domestic dispute and said it was not related to terrorism. The shooter, who was thought to be targeting his wife in the arrivals’ hall, hit her bodyguard and then fled the scene, according to police. “The suspect fired two shots before hitting a local man who was a bodyguard, causing the victim to suffer injuries to the abdomen,” Selangor state police chief Hussein Omar Khan said in a statement. Criminal Investigation Department Director Shuhaily Zain added: “The man actually intended to shoot towards his wife.” Officers were searching for a 38-year-old Malaysian man who had previously been arrested for threatening his wife. Following the threats, the woman hired bodyguards last year, according to Shuhaily. The woman, who runs a travel agency, was at the airport to receive Muslim pilgrims returning from Mecca, police said. Gun violence is rare in Malaysia, which has tough gun control laws, with illegal possession of firearms punishable by up to 40 years in jail.<br/>
Airlines have finally shaken off the lingering effects of Covid, with capacity back to pre-pandemic levels for the first time, according to data from Flight Centre. Global seat availability climbed back over 100% of 2019 levels in April, with travellers enjoying lower air fares as a result. “An analysis of key international routes for Australian travellers found fares on some international routes out of Australia dropped by up to 25%,” said Flight Centre Corporate’s managing director, Melissa Elf. “With more and more capacity and competition being introduced to the market, it’s a trend we’ll continue to see throughout the rest of the year.” Australia’s international capacity is expected to tick up from 95% to 98% next month, while domestic capacity has been hovering between 98 and 100% for the last few months. Elf said there are promising signs that air fares will continue to fall beyond the short term, with major carriers – including Delta, Singapore Airlines and China Southern – recently announcing new routes to Australia. In Q1 2024, flights to Australia’s most popular travel destination Indonesia were down 21% from the previous year at $798 return on average. Available seats to the holiday spot were at 115% of pre-pandemic capacity.<br/>
The union representing Canadian Airbus A220 workers said on Friday it reached an agreement in principle with the planemaker, with members to vote on the proposed deal on April 21. The estimated 1,300 Montreal-area assembly workers have rejected two previous offers from Airbus, which wants to ramp up production of the money-losing single-aisle jet. Airbus' Canadian division said in a statement that it views positively that a negotiated tentative agreement was reached with union representatives. "We are committed to reaching an agreement on the terms of a new collective agreement that will be positive and fair for both parties, while ensuring the long-term success of the A220," it said.<br/>
Boeing's key supplier Spirit AeroSystems is limiting overtime and hiring as production declines due to lower output of 737 MAX jets, Spirit told Reuters on Friday. Boeing's MAX jetliner production has fallen sharply in recent weeks as U.S. regulators step up factory checks and workers slow the assembly line outside Seattle to complete outstanding work. Boeing's deliveries dropped by half in March from a year ago as it deals with a sprawling crisis triggered by the Jan. 5 Alaska Airlines ALK.N midair panel blowout. The slowdown is spilling over to Spirit, the struggling industry supplier Boeing spun off in 2005, which makes about 70% of the 737. Boeing is now in talks to acquire the company. "When I walk the shop floors things have slowed down," said Cornell Beard, president of the Wichita, Kansas, union district which represents Spirit Aero workers. Beard said employees are expected to raise concerns about potential layoffs at an internal union gathering on Saturday, adding the company cut overtime last week. While Spirit has not announced layoffs, some employees are nervous and are catching up on work they were behind on due to slower assembly demands. "We're just hanging on," he said. Spirit has a requirements contract with Boeing for the 737 MAX program and the U.S. planemaker can reduce the purchase volume at any time, according to a filing. Spirit AeroSystems is "aligning our production to support our customer's rate profile," spokesperson Joe Buccino told Reuters by email. That includes in the near-term "limiting overtime as well as hiring for specific roles, including contractors."<br/>
Planes, trains and snowmobiles comprised the transportation portfolio that Bombardier was riding as the 21st century unfolded. But the Montreal-based company also was carrying a boatload of debt incurred while building those diverse businesses over several decades, especially the billions it poured into developing the C Series passenger jet, launched in 2008 to compete with Boeing and Airbus for commercial airlines orders. By 2018, the financial and operational headwinds became too strong, forcing Bombardier’s then-CEO Alain Bellemare to begin shedding key assets, most prominently by selling Airbus the C Series program — rebranded as the popular A220 airline. That was followed by divesting the rest of its commercial aircraft businesses, the Learjet brand of private planes and the railway unit. The recreational products entity, featuring Ski-Doo snowmobiles and Sea-Doo personal watercraft, had been offloaded in 2003. A new management team, headed by CEO Éric Martel and CFO Bart Demosky, took control in 2020. They immediately established an ambitious, five-year strategic plan to reposition Bombardier, with a focus squarely on its sturdiest leg: the high-flying business jet and ancillary services industry. That is proving to be a smart calculation, based not only on Bombardier’s almost 40 years of experience in manufacturing and marketing business jets but also the current state of that aviation sector. Deliveries of business and general aviation aircraft last year topped 4,000 for the first time in more than a decade, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association reported in February. When compared to 2022, all aircraft segments saw increases in shipments, and preliminary aircraft deliveries were valued at $27.8b, an increase of 3.6%, according to the trade association, adding that business jet deliveries climbed 2.5%. Bombardier’s pure-play strategy is based on four key pillars, Demosky said. Story has more. <br/>
It has happened to a model, a medical doctor and a hairstylist, along with many other airline passengers: being singled out or denied boarding on a flight for their fashion choices. The typical first move for passengers involved: airing their complaints on social media. That’s what Aurora Culpo did when her sister Olivia Culpo, a model and former Miss Universe, had to cover up her black sports bra and biking shorts with a hoodie before boarding an American Airlines flight to Cabo San Lucas in 2022. Aurora, who was traveling with her sister, slammed American on social media. Tisha Rowe, a Houston-based physician, also publicly criticized the Fort Worth-based carrier over a July 2019 incident in which she was asked to cover up her “too revealing” floral outfit with a blanket on a flight from Jamaica to Miami. Another highly publicized incident occurred on Alaska Airlines in August 2021, when police escorted a passenger wearing black shorts and, initially, a crop top off a flight upon landing. The passenger, Ray Lin Howard, a self-described hairstylist and rapper who goes by Fat Trophy Wife online, posted a video on TikTok of herself being questioned by authorities after the flight, which she was allowed to remain on. The video has more than 1.5m likes and has been shared more than 10,000 times. Most recently, a passenger took her outrage a step further by retaining high-profile civil rights attorney Gloria Allred after an incident on Delta Air Lines in January 2024. On a flight from Salt Lake City to San Francisco, Lisa Archbold said she was “treated like a criminal” for not wearing a bra under her top. She says she was escorted off the plane by the gate agent and allowed to fly only after she put a shirt over her “revealing” outfit.<br/>