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Pro Football Hall of Famer Terrell Davis posted an email from United Airlines Tuesday that said he was banned from flying the airline until a review of an incident earlier this month was complete. But United officials said they already told Davis’ team that the ban was rescinded weeks ago. The conflicting messages heightened tensions, with Davis’ attorney, Parker Stinar, denying that Davis had received notice that the ban was withdrawn and calling for an “overhaul of United’s leadership.” The back and forth was kicked off two weeks ago when Davis, who previously played for the Denver Broncos, said he was handcuffed and removed from a July 13 flight after he lightly tapped a flight attendant on the arm, prompting the employee to say “don’t hit me” and hurry off. Davis, who was later released with apologies, has called out United for making him feel “humiliated” and demanded an investigation. “My family will never unsee me, nor will I ever forget, being taken off an airplanes in handcuffs,” Davis wrote in Tuesday’s Instagram post. The day after the incident, the email from United banning Davis was generated and sent, United said in a statement. The ban was then rescinded the following day, which United said was communicated with Davis’ team a day later. Stinar said that Davis did not initially see the email banning him until recently and that they had only learned the ban was rescinded after Davis’ Tuesday Instagram post. United Airlines said the flight attendant is no longer with the company, adding: “We have apologized to Mr. Davis for his experience and continue to review our handling of incidents like this.”<br/>

Copa Airlines said on Tuesday that Venezuela has decided to temporarily suspend all commercial flights between Panama and Venezuela beginning on Wednesday evening. The Panamanian airline said the suspension will start at 8:00 p.m. Venezuelan time, and apologized to its clients for any inconvenience caused by the decision. Venezuela's transportation ministry had said in a statement that it will suspend flights from and to Panama and also the Dominican Republic temporarily due to their government's interference in Venezuelan affairs. The transportation ministry claimed the decision was taken "under the presumption of the use of civil aviation for purposes not compatible with safety principles." Panama and the Dominican Republic were among the countries that have asked for a complete review, involving independent observers, of Sunday's presidential election in Venezuela. Venezuela announced on Monday it would withdraw its diplomatic personnel from seven countries in Latin America, including Panama and the Dominican Republic.<br/>

Ethiopian Airlines, the flagship carrier of Ethiopia, is working to strengthen its facility and capacity to accommodate its expanding business operations through collaboration with Chinese construction companies. The project of constructing Ethiopian Airlines Group's future headquarters is progressing steadily, with expectations for completion in August 2026, as disclosed by the Chinese project contractor, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), on Monday. The project, which is expected to enhance the carrier's operational capabilities and statue in the aviation industry, is located inside the premises of the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport in the Ethiopian capital. It includes six main buildings as the first phase, with a contract value of $67.8m. Wang Peng, the project's executive manager from CCECC, said the construction began in December last year, with foundation works being carried out at the moment, adding that the project has so far generated over 500 jobs for Ethiopians.<br/>

ANA Holdings Inc.’s operating profit plunged in the first quarter, failing to meet analyst estimates on increasing costs and weak domestic travel demand. Japan’s largest carrier reported a profit in the three-month period through June of ¥30.4b ($196m), a decline of 31% year-on-year and lower than the lowest analyst estimate. The fall comes as fewer passengers traveled on domestic routes in April and May compared to the year prior. The company kept its projection for full-year profit unchanged at ¥170b, which is lower than the market consensus of ¥190b, as demand from international travelers remained robust and a weak yen contributed to higher yields, especially on North American routes. “A rise in oil and engine maintenance cost, as well as aggressive investment for human resource weighed on the first quarter earnings,” CFO Kimihiro Nakahori at a press conference on Tuesday. The weak yen exacerbated the airline’s fuel expenses as the price of oil rose versus the same period last year. A company-wide wage hike in March and a hiring spree also contributed to high costs. While domestic demand remains weak, ANA saw a 16% rise in passengers on international routes on strong demand for travel to Japan and outbound itineraries showed signs of recovering, the company said. The airline plans to start three new European routes from Haneda to Milan, Stockholm and Istanbul this winter, underscoring the boom in demand for travel to Japan. The planned 30% increase in operations on European routes will help ANA achieve its full-year profit target, the company said in a statement. The yen has plummeted in value against the US dollar since the beginning of the year before strengthening again over recent weeks, adding to the risks the airline faces. In April, CEO Koji Shibata said ¥125 to the dollar would be an ideal rate for the airline. <br/>

Japan’s largest airline, ANA, is set to launch a direct route from Stockholm Arlanda Airport to Tokyo Haneda. From 31 January 2025, ANA will operate flights three times a week, connecting the Swedish capital to one of Asia’s most crucial markets. This connection will serve as a vital link not only to Tokyo but also to the broader Asian and South Pacific regions, via ANA’s extensive network. Jonas Abrahamsson, President and CEO of Swedavia, expressed confidence in the Swedish air travel market. He stated, “ANA’s investment in a direct route from Stockholm Arlanda to Tokyo Haneda demonstrates this confidence.” “ANA will play a crucial role in connecting Sweden to Japan and other key Asian markets. Swedavia aims to enhance connectivity, and ANA’s vast network facilitates meetings for business, leisure, and family visits.” Shinichi Inoue, President and CEO of ANA, added, “We’re excited to add Stockholm to our expanding European network.” “We look forward to strengthening ties between Japan and Sweden, fostering closer relations between our nations.”<br/>