Federal officials said Tuesday that they are expanding tests to speed up airport lines and improve security. In a first in the U.S., the Transportation Security Administration said Tuesday that it plans to begin using computed-tomography or CT scanners to inspect carry-on bags at one checkpoint in the Phoenix airport by the end of the year. CT scanners are already used to screen checked baggage. The process is mostly automated — the scanners generate 3-D images that are analyzed by computers. Security workers only check a bag if something is suspicious. The use of CT technology at airport checkpoints would eliminate the need for screeners to examine X-ray images of every bag. It could also let travelers leave liquids and laptops in their carry-on bags. TSA said it will work with American Airlines to make other changes to increase automation and speed up screening this fall in Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles and Miami. American will spend $5m on the changes, said the airline's chief operating officer, Robert Isom, in a letter to employees. He said neither the increased automation nor CT scanners will solve TSA's problems, "but they are both huge steps in the right direction."<br/>
general
South Korea may be small with about a 30th of China’s population. Yet, its skies are about to get more crowded with a sixth budget airline, beating its giant neighbor that boasts two major no-frills carriers. Asiana Airlines Inc.’s fully owned new low-cost unit, Air Seoul Co., is poised to receive a government permit on Wednesday as it takes over some of the short-haul flights that are less profitable for its parent. The latest addition is a sign of surging demand for air travel as more Koreans, spoiled for choice, take advantage of affordable fares for a relaxing vacation in Japan’s hot springs or shopping trips to Hong Kong. While competition is good news for fliers, it may hurt some struggling carriers in a crowded market when oil rebounds and weighs on earnings, said Um Kyung A, an analyst at Shinyoung Securities Co. “In a way, some of the financially unstable ones were saved by the slump in crude oil prices,” Seoul-based Um said. “The problem will come when oil prices start to rise again. That’s when some of these budget carriers may start having financial difficulties.” In 2015, all the five existing carriers reported profit as a 26% slide in oil prices lowered fuel costs. Still, total debt at Eastar Jet and Tway Air Co. is in excess of their assets. Promotional offers show how competition for passengers has driven down fares. <br/>
Over 300 European flights were expected to be cancelled July 5 during another French air traffic control walkout. European lobby group Airlines for Europe had warned that more than 200,000 passengers would be affected by the strike action. “The strike is expected to last for 35 hours and will see more than 200 flight cancellations—delays and time-consuming detours not included. Later this month, another strike will hit Italy with hundreds of flights at risk of being canceled,” A4E said. Eurocontrol said it was experiencing moderate to high delays around Paris, with up to moderate disruption around the cities of Brest, Bordeaux and Marseille. A4E member Ryanair preemptively canceled 102 flights, affecting over 18,000 passengers, with another 100,000 likely to be hit by delays as a result of this latest industrial action. “We are calling on the European Commission to take action to prevent these ATC strikes from disrupting the travel plans of Europe’s citizens and their families,” Ryanair chief marketing officer Kenny Jacobs said.<br/>
Thailand and Laos have forged an accord to more than double the limits on seat volume that their respective airlines can carry between the two countries. The agreement paves the way for designated carriers registered in both countries to ramp up seat capacities on routes that were restricted for years. The "multiple" increase is meant to respond to rising passenger traffic demand between Thailand and Laos. The latter has been slow to open its skies to foreign carriers. Vanhpheng Chanthaphone, director-general of the Laotian civil aviation department, told the Bangkok Post that the new accord covers projected demand for several years ahead. <br/>