US investment fund Blackrock Investment Management has sold a portion of its preferential shares and American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) in Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras (AD, São Paulo Viracopos), reducing its stake in the Brazilian airline from 5.061% to 4.716%, Reuters reported. The divestment follows reports that alleged Azul was in discussions with shareholders to optimise its equity structure and develop a new plan to improve its profitability and liquidity. The airline’s CEO, John Rodgerson, publicly denied rumours Azul could file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States. In July, ch-aviation reported that Blackrock had acquired more preferential shares and ADRs in Azul, raising its ownership to 5.061%. Azul’s New York Stock Exchange share price has fallen by 37.75% over the last month while plunging by 70.6% between September 2023 to date.<br/>
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Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary has issued fresh calls for the resignation of the CE of ATC provider Nats. O’Leary urged Martin Rolfe to step down and “allow someone competent” to take over after flights were disrupted at Gatwick Airport on Sunday due to “Nats staff shortages”. The airline’s CE has repeatedly criticised Rolfe, particularly over the widespread disruption at UK airports during last year’s August Bank Holiday Monday, which was caused by a Nats technical failure. Gatwick flights have frequently been disrupted due to ATC staffing issues. Analysis of data from flight tracking website FlightRadar24 shows 49 departures and 51 arrivals were cancelled on Sunday between 3pm and midnight, affecting more than 16,000 passengers. Many other flights were delayed. Disruption continued on Monday morning due to planes being out of position. Ten flights were cancelled and others were delayed. O’Leary said: “UK Nats staff shortages caused multiple flight delays and cancellations at Gatwick Airport yesterday, Sunday September 8. “This is the latest in a long line of cock-ups by UK Nats, which has yet again disrupted multiple flights and thousands of passengers at Gatwick. Airlines and passengers deserve better. Ryanair again calls on UK Nats CE Martin Rolfe to step down and allow someone competent to run an efficient UK ATC service, which airlines and passengers are entitled to expect. If he won’t go, then (new Transport Secretary) Louise Haigh should sack him.”<br/>
A plane on the way to Ibiza had to be diverted to France after violence broke out on board. The Ryanair flight from Manchester to Ibiza was forced to land in Toulouse on Sunday after a group of passengers became disruptive, the airline said. Ryanair said local police were called in to control the situation. Footage showed one man being escorted off the aircraft as a woman then appeared to start repeatedly attacking another passenger. In a statement, Ryanair said: “This flight from Manchester to Ibiza diverted to Toulouse after a small group of passengers became disruptive inflight. The crew called ahead for police assistance, who met the aircraft upon landing at Toulouse and offloaded 2 passengers before this flight continued to Ibiza. We sincerely apologise to passengers for any inconvenience caused as a result of these unruly passengers’ behaviour, which was beyond Ryanair’s control. This is now a matter for local police.”<br/>
HAECO has began base maintenance services for Philippine Airlines’ Airbus A321 fleet, marking the national carrier’s return to the Chinese MRO provider. The first heavy maintenance checks – at the firm’s Xiamen facility – started in August and ended 7 September, says HAECO. Philippine Airlines first signed an initial maintenance agreement in 1999, with HAECO since performing over 40 MRO events for the carrier. According to Cirium fleets data, Philippine Airlines has 21 A321s in service: three A321neos and 18 A321ceos. It also has three A321neos in storage and another 13 examples on order. HAECO’s group CCO Gerald Steinhoff says: ”With our full range of capabilities in delivering world-class maintenance repair and overhaul services across airframe, components and engine services across global locations, we look forward to extending our exceptional services to support Philippine Airlines’ growing widebody and narrowbody fleets in the future.”<br/>
Indonesia’s ministry of transport believes all 48 occupants of an ATR 42-500 have survived a runway excursion during take-off in Papua which badly damaged the turboprop. But the ministry says “several” of those on board were injured during the accident at Serui airport. The Trigana Air aircraft (PK-YSP) came to rest on rough ground, on its fuselage underside following the collapse of its landing-gear. It had been bound for Sentani, with 42 passengers and six crew members, on 9 September. “Initial information is that all passengers and crew on board are safe,” says directorate general of air transportation head Kristi Endah Murni. But he says a number of the occupants were injured and transported to hospital. The aircraft had landed from Biak at 10:19, the ministry states, and started taxiing for departure from runway 28 at 10:35. Just 1min later, it adds, having travelled 1,200m along the runway, the aircraft “skidded to the left”. “The cause of the aircraft’s skidding is still under investigation,” says the ministry. Weather conditions at Serui at the time of the accident have not been confirmed.<br/>