general

Much of the central and eastern U.S. is slated to receive another blast of snow and wintry weather this week, bringing potential travel hazards and power outages. Following weekend snow in the Northeast, a large section of the country is in the path of two storms that will sweep east from Tuesday through Thursday. Roughly 32m people in the U.S. were already put under weather alerts on Monday night. "The first storm from Monday night to Wednesday night will occur as cold air expands farther south and meets up with moisture spreading north from the Gulf," AccuWeather Meteorologist Alex Duffus said in a statement. “This can lead to accumulating snow that may impact millions from the Plains to the mid-Atlantic states and southern New England, with the potential for significant travel impacts across the big cities in the region from late Tuesday into Tuesday night,” he cautioned. Dozens of delays and flight cancelations were reported at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Washington, D.C., tracker FlightAware showed. “The airport is open and operational and our snow team is monitoring the runways,” the airport said in a post on social media. “Please check your flight status with the airlines for delays or cancellation if you are traveling later this afternoon or tomorrow.”<br/>

Major U.S. airlines on Tuesday asked the U.S. Transportation Department to abandon a review launched by the Biden administration over whether carriers should be required to pay passengers compensation over flight disruptions. Airlines for America, a trade group representing American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and others, urged the Trump administration to end the review launched in December to take comments on whether airlines in the United States should provide cash to compensate for carrier-caused disruptions like they are required to do in the European Union and Canada. "Airlines do not need further incentive to provide quality service," the group wrote, arguing that USDOT lacks legal authority and that the requirement would drastically boost airlines' costs and hike ticket prices. The IATA representing airlines worldwide separately criticized the idea saying required compensation programs "have become wealth transfer tools that have cost airlines billions of dollars without any meaningful reduction in flight disruptions." Spirit Airlines said the idea is so extreme "it might encourage carriers to re-evaluate when they proceed with flights that should have been further delayed or canceled when potential safety related concerns exist." USDOT in December sought comment on whether airlines should be required to pay $200-$300 for domestic delays of at least three hours, $375-$525 for six-hour delays, and $750-$775 for nine-hour delays. Then-Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in December that compensation rules for delays "would change the economic incentive in a way that motivates airlines to do more."<br/>

President Donald Trump's energy department said on Tuesday it approved the disbursement of a loan guarantee that had been finalized days before he took office to Calumet for the expansion of a sustainable aviation fuel refinery in Montana. The Montana Renewables refinery in Great Falls opened in late 2022 and produces about 140m gallons a year of biofuels. The loan will allow it to expand production to 315m gallons per year, and produce about half of North American SAF, a fuel made from fats from seed oils and tallow that is lower in greenhouse gas emissions than conventional jet fuel. President Joe Biden's administration had finalized the loan on January 10. But there have been widespread worries among green energy backers that finalized loans of the department's Loan Programs Office would be clawed back by the Trump administration given efforts by billionaire Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency to cut spending. Biden's Inflation Reduction Act boosted LPO's loan authority by $100b. Although it approved the disbursement of the Montana loan, the energy department "is continuing to conduct a department-wide review of all funding, including grants and loans, to ensure all activities are consistent with the law and in accordance with President Trump’s executive orders and priorities," a spokeswoman said. U.S. Senator Steve Daines, a Republican from Montana, said the approval only happened after he pressed the White House and emphasized that it helped reach Trump's goal of "energy dominance."<br/>

Brussels Airport and Charleroi Airport have confirmed that no passenger flights will depart on Thursday 13 February. A national strike is being organised by the joint trade union front on this day, causing major disruption. A national trade union protest will be taking place in Brussels on Thursday, accompanied by nationwide strike action. Belgium's largest airport in Zaventem had already announced it was expecting a significant impact on its operations because its handling agents and security personnel are participating in the strike en masse. On Monday, however, Brussels Airport confirmed that no passenger flights will be departing at all. "To ensure the safety of passengers and staff, we have decided, in consultation with the airlines, not to operate any departing passenger flights on 13 February," the airport noted in a statement. "Airlines will contact passengers whose flights have been impacted. We ask passengers not to come to the airport on the day." All passengers are advised to check the status of their flight with their airline or via the Brussels Airport website or app.<br/>

Heathrow is preparing to unveil plans to squeeze 100mn passengers a year through its cramped west London airfield, raising capacity by nearly a fifth before it pushes ahead with plans for a controversial third runway. The airport’s CE Thomas Woldbye will on Wednesday set out proposals for a “phased expansion programme”, which will start with improvements to its current site but ultimately “lay the groundwork for a third runway”. Airport bosses believe they can fit another 15mn people per year through the current airport by upgrading existing facilities, a multibillion-pound project that will include improving Terminals 2 and 5 and increasing the number of aircraft stands. The airport said this would be the largest ever private investment programme into the airport, eclipsing the £4.3bn spent to build Terminal 5 in 2008. In a speech at British Steel’s Scunthorpe plant on Wednesday, Woldbye will say the airport is acting to “answer the chancellor’s call”, after Rachel Reeves last month dramatically swung the government’s support behind growing the UK’s only hub airport. Woldbye will also pledge to then build a third runway, which could mean the airport could then handle about 140mn passengers per year. “A third runway is critical for the country’s future economic success, and I confirm we will submit our plans for a third runway to government this summer,” Woldbye will say. Heathrow will pledge to use UK steel in the upgrade in a boost to Britain’s domestic producers after American President Donald Trump announced 25% tariffs on steel and aluminium sold into the US. Plans for Heathrow have been repeatedly delayed by political rows and economic turbulence over the past 20 years, but Reeves said she wanted the company to press ahead with seeking planning permission — a process that will take most of this five-year parliament. <br/>

Thailand will see more flights through its airports under the new flying schedule for the northern summer, starting next month. The nation's main gateway, Suvarnabhumi airport, has confirmations for 1,202 flight slots a day, out of a full capacity of 1,930 daily slots, Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit said on Tuesday, citing figures from the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT). According to the minister, this is a 16% rise on the pre-Covid-19 period. The northern summer schedule for all airlines this year runs from March 30 to Oct 28. Don Mueang airport has received bookings for 745 of 1,222 daily slots, down almost 3% on the pre-covid year. Chiang Mai airport has 444 slots and 240 flights have been confirmed, a 17% increase, the minister said. Phuket airport had bookings for 340 of 424 slots during the seven-month span, a 7% rise. Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Chiang Mai and Phuket are operated by Airports of Thailand Plc, which also administers the airports in Hat Yai and Chiang Rai.<br/>

Auckland Airport (AKL) has reached a major milestone in its new domestic jet terminal project, with steel columns now being craned into place as vertical construction begins. Rising up to 21 metres, these columns will support the domestic terminal headhouse, which will house arrivals, baggage claim, airline lounges, amenities, and a new baggage system. Susana Fueyo Suarez, Auckland Airport Chief Infrastructure Officer, said:<br/>“This is one of New Zealand’s most significant infrastructure projects underway right now, and it’s exciting to see the structure rise up out of the ground. We are making good progress on this multi-year build, but it really is significant to be starting work on the main structure itself. You’d have to go back almost 50 years to when the international terminal was built for a project of this scale at Auckland Airport.”<br/>

Boeing said on Tuesday that it had delivered 45 airplanes in January, up from 30 deliveries the previous month and the most deliveries in a month for the U.S. planemaker since 2023. The deliveries included 40 737 MAX aircraft, up from 25 delivered in the same month a year ago, when a mid-air blowout on a nearly new Alaska Air 737 MAX 9 grounded the model and brought Boeing under scrutiny from federal regulators. It was Boeing's busiest January for deliveries since 2019. It was also the company's first full month of production since a seven-week strike last fall halted most of its commercial airplane production. Aircraft deliveries are closely watched by Wall Street because planemakers collect the majority of their payment when they hand over jets to customers. It delivered seven 737 MAX jets to United Airlines, five to Southwest Airlines and seven to unidentified Chinese airlines, according to the company. According to Cirium Fleet Analyzer and flight records on FlightRadar24, Boeing delivered 737 MAX aircraft to Shenzhen Airlines, 9 Air, Shandong Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, Xiamen Airlines, and two to Air China.<br/>Boeing also delivered four 787s, including the first 787 to TAAG Angola, and one 777 freighter to Ethiopian Airlines. Boeing booked 34 orders for 737 MAX to unidentified customers and two 777 freighter orders, also to unidentified customers, for a total of 36 new orders, up from 27 orders during the same month a year ago. It did not record any cancellations.<br/>

An Airbus A350 aircraft without livery flew from Toulouse, France, to north China's Tianjin Municipality on Tuesday, marking the first such arrival in 2025, the European aircraft manufacturer Airbus said. The jet, which completed assembly overseas, will undergo final cabin installation, painting, and flight testing at the Airbus Tianjin Widebody Completion and Delivery Center (C&DC) before its delivery to the customer. Airbus established its A320 Family Final Assembly Line Asia in Tianjin in 2008, its first production facility outside Europe. The C&DC, inaugurated in 2017 and the first of its kind outside Europe, began supporting A350 completion and delivery in 2020. As of the end of 2024, the C&DC had delivered 767 A320 Family jets, 16 A330s and 25 A350s. "China is Airbus' largest single-country market globally," said George Xu, Airbus executive vice president and Airbus China CEO.<br/>

At least 91 flights to and from New Chitose Airport in Japan's Hokkaido were cancelled Tuesday (Feb 11) due to temporarily strong winds and snow, local media reported. By 5pm local time, 91 flights had been cancelled as the weather agency reported that a winter pressure pattern caused strong winds and heavy snowfall near the airport, significantly reducing visibility, according to national broadcaster NHK. Many passengers were stranded at the airport, forming long lines at airline counters while seeking alternative flights, according to the report. Airlines advise travellers to check their websites for the latest updates on flight schedules.<br/>

If you’ve seen images of the infamous double-level airplane seat concept and thought “that’s never going to happen” — maybe think again. Aviation start-up Chaise Longue, the brains behind the controversial dual-level seat, announced today it’s “exploring some early stage concepts” with aviation giant Airbus. This collaboration with an aircraft manufacturing heavyweight is a significant step in this seat design’s journey from college student project to potential in-air reality. Designer and Chaise Longue CEO Alejandro Núñez Vicente tells CNN Travel he’s thankful Airbus sees “the true potential of two-level seating.” An Airbus representative confirmed that “Chaise Longue is exploring some early stage concepts with Airbus on two-level seating solutions for Airbus commercial aircraft.” The representative added that “given the nature of this early phase level,” Airbus preferred “not to further comment at this stage.” The crux of Núñez Vicente’s Chaise Longue seat design is the removal of the overhead cabin to allow two levels of seats in a single aircraft cabin. The idea is that travelers would have the option of booking the top row or the bottom row — and while the lower level might look less-than-appealing in photos, bottom passengers would be able to stretch out their legs and enjoy extra leg room. The top level is also designed to give “larger recline angles” and “leg-stretching possibility” than your average economy airplane seat, says Núñez Vicente. Núñez Vicente initially developed the design for economy cabins before last year premiering a business class/first class iteration.<br/>

China has long held ambitions of turning global aviation into an “ABC” market: breaking the duopoly of Airbus and Boeing with the entry of world-class Chinese jets. That strategy is already well under way, with the state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) having already received orders for hundreds of its regional and narrowbody planes, the C909 and C919. Now, the Chinese aircraft manufacturer is doubling down on plans to expand its fleet to include widebody models – including a self-developed answer to Boeing’s iconic 747 jumbo jet. Enter the C929 and C939. Comac appears laser-focused on producing its own liners capable of undertaking long-haul flights, an endeavour that is not only being driven by market demand but also political and strategic factors. “There are not too many other engineering products other than big planes that are so visible, so recognisable,” said David Yu, a professor at New York University Shanghai specialising in aviation financing. “Just like America and Europe, China has many reasons to develop and fly home-grown widebodies that reflect its status and ambitions.”<br/>

Air-taxi maker Archer Aviation said on Tuesday it has raised $300m in a funding round that consisted of institutional investors including accounts managed by BlackRock. Archer expects the capital raise to help it accelerate the development of its hybrid aircraft platform and further reinforce its balance sheet. "We are raising additional capital to help us invest in critical capabilities like composites and batteries to help enable us to capture this opportunity and more," CEO Adam Goldstein said. The additional capital brings Archer's total liquidity to about $1b currently, the company said on Tuesday. The company's statement did not disclose the valuation at which the new capital was raised. The latest fundraising comes amid a cash crunch in the electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) industry, driven by technological and regulatory challenges. However, analysts believe Archer is well positioned to endure these difficulties and achieve certification. The company previously raised $430m in December through an equity offering that had defense technology company Anduril and existing investors such as United Airlines and Stellantis, as well as new backers such as Wellington Management and Abu Dhabi investment holding company 2PointZero, participate in the fundraising. <br/>

Tui shares fell more than 10% Tuesday after the German travel operator reported slower growth in bookings for its summer season, raising concerns about demand across the European travel industry. The company said bookings in its airlines division for this summer were 2% higher in the last three months of 2024 than a year earlier, with 32% of its capacity sold, down from 7% growth the previous quarter. “Bookings have been slower . . . We have been less aggressive with the capacity and pricing,” said CE Sebastian Ebel. Tui’s shares were trading at €7.63 by early afternoon in Frankfurt, down from €8.52 at Monday’s close. Other European airline shares also fell, with declines of almost 7% for Wizz Air, 5% for Lufthansa and 4% for easyJet, triggered by rising oil prices pushing up fuel costs for airlines. Tui said underlying earnings before tax and interest in its airlines division had fallen 31% from the same quarter a year earlier, although this had been expected because of “higher investments ahead of the key summer season”. “We were a little bit late and there we are, in catch-up mode,” Ebel said, adding that demand had improved since January. He said Tui had been careful not to increase capacity because its priority was to “fill our capacity” to maximise profit. Ebel also said the company was focused on expanding its dynamic packaging deals business with partners such as Ryanair, allowing consumers to choose from a range of flights when booking trips. He added that such products were “risk-free and have good margins”, and outlined plans to expand the business into Nordic countries.<br/>