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United starts equipping 500-strong regional fleet with Starlink connectivity

United Airlines has begun connecting its regional jets to SpaceX’s Starlink network, which will eventually provide free wi-fi to customers across the US carrier’s fleet. Chicago-headquartered United said on 7 March that it plans to outfit upward of 40 regional jets monthly starting in May and continuing through year-end, when its entire 500-strong regional fleet should be retrofitted with Starlink technology. United operates 236 Embraer E Jets and 98 older ERJs, in addition to 182 MHIRJ CRJ regional jets, according to Airline Business fleets data. Ultimately, the carrier will upgrade its entire 1,000-aircraft narrowbody and widebody fleet with technology that is “approximately 10 times faster than installing non-Starlink equipment”, United says. The full process is expected to take a few years. United previously used internet provider Gogo for wi-fi on its Embraer and MHIRJ regional jets. Enhanced connectivity will allow United passengers to access live streaming, gaming, messaging and e-commerce services during regional flights. The carrier says installing Starlink on a regional jet takes about 8h, including time required to remove previous equipment. Each aircraft will be out of service an estimated four days, compared with an average of more than 10 days of down time required for “other in-flight providers”. United says the Starlink units are weight-savers, coming in at 39kg (85lb), compared with alternatives weighing closer to 135kg.
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Chinese passenger pricked by stray needle on flight gets depression, seeks compensation

A man in China who was pricked by a left-behind needle on a flight is demanding 130,000 yuan (US$18,000) in compensation for depression caused by his resultant fear of infections. According to the mainland media outlet Jimu News, the man surnamed Fu was pricked by a syringe needle on a China Southern Airlines flight while retrieving his phone from the seat pocket. Fu recalled feeling a sharp sting in his finger and discovering a needle stuck to it, which he suspected was from an insulin syringe. The flight attendants disinfected his finger and reported the incident to the ground company. It was later confirmed that the needle had been left behind by a passenger on a previous flight. After landing, the airline offered Fu 1,800 yuan (US$250) for his ticket and an additional 1,000 yuan for the incident. However, Fu rejected the offer, deeming it insufficient. Fu later paid for multiple hospital visits to undergo infectious disease tests, citing insomnia caused by excessive worry. He said: “The doctor told me infections have a latent period, so I need several checks over the next six months.” Fu said the uncertainty of potentially being diagnosed with an infectious disease “crushed” him. On February 10, he was diagnosed with moderate depression at Sichuan Modern Hospital, and was advised to undergo further tests for hepatitis C, hepatitis B, and HIV in two months. Currently, his test results show no signs of any related diseases. Fu said he has repeatedly asked China Southern Airlines to investigate the health of the passenger who left the needle behind, but the airline refused, citing privacy concerns. He later filed a lawsuit, seeking more than 130,000 yuan (US$18,000) in compensation for medical costs, lost wages, and emotional distress. In its latest public apology, China Southern Airlines said: “We have strengthened cleaning and inspection procedures to ensure passenger safety.”
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Flight attendant pleads guilty to secretly recording a 14-year-old girl in plane bathroom

A former American Airlines flight attendant has pleaded guilty to secretly recording video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom and having recordings of four other girls using the lavatories. Estes Carter Thompson III, 37, of Charlotte, North Carolina, pleaded guilty Thursday to one count of attempted sexual exploitation of children and one count of possession of images of child sexual abuse depicting a prepubescent minor. According to investigators, the girl got up to use the main cabin lavatory nearest to her seat during a Sept. 2, 2023, flight from Charlotte to Boston but found it was occupied. Thompson told her the first-class lavatory was unoccupied and escorted her there, investigators said. She told investigators that before she entered the bathroom, Thompson told her he needed to wash his hands and that the toilet seat was broken. After he left, the teen entered the bathroom and saw red stickers on the underside of the toilet seat lid, which was in the open position, officials said, with the words written in black ink and all caps, “inoperative catering equipment,” “remove from service,” and “seat broken.” Beneath the stickers, Thompson had concealed his iPhone to record a video, investigators said. The girl used her phone to take a picture of the stickers and concealed iPhone before leaving.
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FAA to step up small plane scrutiny after close-call between Southwest plane, business jet

The FAA said Friday it taking steps to address safety issues involving general aviation and business jets after a serious Feb. 25 near-miss incident in Chicago. The FAA said it will initiate safety-risk analysis of close encounters between pilots flying visually and pilots flying under air traffic control after holding a meeting Thursday with general and business aviation groups. Last month a Southwest Airlines flight was forced to abort a landing at Chicago Midway and narrowly avoided a collision with a business jet that entered the runway without authorization. Over the last two years, a series of troubling near-miss incidents has raised concerns about U.S. aviation safety and the strain on understaffed air traffic control operations. Several incidents have involved close calls with small planes. The FAA said it would take a series of steps to remind pilots to check notices for situations they can encounter during flight, be familiar with their destination airport, avoid complacency by paying attention to pre-flight checklists and pay close attention to onboard collision warnings. "Safety is a collective effort that requires constant, proactive collaboration among all stakeholders," said Acting FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau. "Complacency is the enemy of safety and we need to be vigilant to address emerging risks before they become problems." Other incidents have raised concerns. On Saturday, three small airplanes violated temporary flight restrictions over Palm Beach, Florida where President Donald Trump was staying, prompting the military to respond with F-16 fighter aircraft. The North American Aerospace Defense command said the excessive number of incidents indicated pilots were not reading required notices before flying.
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Plane with 5 aboard crashes in Lancaster County, Pa.

A small aircraft carrying five people crashed in a parking lot of a retirement community in Lancaster County, Pa., on Sunday afternoon, according to local officials, after the pilot reported there was an “open door,” air traffic transmissions show. The aircraft, a six-seater Beechcraft Bonanza, crashed outside of Brethren Village Retirement Community at 3:18 p.m. after it took off from Lancaster Airport, Scott Little, the fire chief of Manheim Township Fire Rescue, said at a news conference on Sunday. According to a spokesperson for Lancaster General Hospital, all five people on the plane were transported to Lancaster General Hospital on Sunday. Two people were then transported to Lehigh Valley Health Network’s burn center by emergency flight crews, and one person was transported there by ground ambulance. Two people remain hospitalized at Lancaster General, the spokesperson said. No one on the ground was hurt, officials said. Duane Fisher, police chief of Manheim Township, said at the news conference that it looked like the aircraft skidded about 100 feet after hitting the ground. About a dozen vehicles were damaged, though there was no damage to buildings.
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Thai Airways, AirAsia impose restrictions on in-flight use of power banks

Thai Airways and AirAsia have introduced new restrictions on the use of power banks onboard their flights, following a rise in cabin fire incidents. Thai Airways has announced a complete ban on the use of power banks during flights, starting from March 15. Passengers will still be permitted to carry power banks in their carry-on luggage, provided they adhere to capacity limits set by the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT). These regulations, aligned with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and International Air Transport Association (IATA) standards, prohibit power banks in checked baggage due to the risk of lithium batteries overheating. The move comes as several international airlines, notably in South Korea and Taiwan, have implemented stricter measures, including bans on charging power banks in-flight and restrictions on overhead storage. CAAT and Thai airlines continue to emphasise the importance of verifying power bank capacity and condition before travel. AirAsia has also implemented a policy to bar the charging of devices with power banks during flights.
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Korean Air A321neos among Airbus orders recorded in quiet February

Airbus’s order activity quietened in February, with the airframer securing agreements for 14 aircraft, all from its single-aisle families. Korean Air signed for six A321neos while an undisclosed customer placed an order for eight. They took net orders for the first two months of the year to 65, following a strong January in which Airbus recorded net agreements for 51 aircraft including 29 widebodies. The airframer delivered 40 aircraft in February, bringing the total to 65 this year, down on last year’s 79. Airbus recently indicated that deliveries over the first quarter would dip as a result of a shortage of engines being received at its assembly facilities. Over the course of February the airframer handed over 33 A320neo-family jets, plus four A220s, one A350 and two A330neos.
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Qatar Airways’ breakneck growth will slow after next big plane order, says CEO

Qatar Airways will end a period of breakneck growth after one more large aircraft order, its CE has said, claiming the service offered by competitors has gone downhill because they have expanded too fast. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer said Qatar Airways Group, which includes the airline and Doha airport, was in talks with Airbus and Boeing over aircraft orders that will help it to increase passenger numbers from its current 50mn a year to 80mn annually over the next five to six years. But after that, “we will slow down,” he told the Financial Times in an interview. “We will reach capacity at [Doha’s Hamad international airport], and that’s it,” he said. “If we want to continue growing at the same speed, we can . . . But can I guarantee you that . . . I can provide the same level of service? No, nobody can do this,” he said, adding that at “many competitors inside the region and outside . . . the quality of the service has deteriorated and people are not getting what they’re paying for”. His comments hint at the fierce regional rivalry in the industry, where deep-pocketed sovereign owners use airlines as engines of growth and connectivity and to project soft power. Qatar Airways competes with Dubai’s Emirates and Abu Dhabi’s Etihad, which is expected to become the first regional airline to launch an IPO in two decades this year. Saudi Arabia has also outlined plans to expand its airlines and airports as part of efforts to diversify its economy. Etihad declined to comment, Emirates did not respond to a request for comment. Dubai has the world’s busiest international airport: Dubai International had a record of more than 92mn travellers in 2024. Last year the emirate announced plans to further develop one of its other airports, Dubai World Central, into a five-runway behemoth that will accommodate 150mn passengers annually within 10 years. Meer, who trained as an engineer, dismissed the idea that Dubai’s expanding capacity would affect Doha airport. “Would you rather have dinner at McDonald’s or go to a Michelin star restaurant?” he said. Qatar wants to attract more tourists and international business. Previously “we were not marketing it properly”, Meer said, but added that a “stop over” offering from Qatar Airways should help boost visitor numbers.
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Gulf Air, SalamAir sign key MRO services deal

Gulf Air, the National Carrier of Bahrain, has announced a strategic partnership with SalamAir, Oman's Low-cost carrier, formalised through a memorandum of understanding (MOU). This MoU will see Gulf Air provide SalamAir with a comprehensive suite of technical services encompassing line maintenance, base maintenance and specialised workshop support, Gulf Air said. This partnership not only offers SalamAir innovative operational solutions, it also positions Gulf Air as a key player in the regional MRO landscape, it said. Gulf Air Chief Technical Officer Mazin Saleh said: "This agreement with SalamAir is a significant step towards Gulf Air's vision to become a preferred provider of quality MRO services. By sharing our expertise and resources, we are fostering new avenues of growth for Gulf Air."
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US FAA says 240 flights disrupted by explosion of Musk's SpaceX Starship

The U.S. FAA said on Friday that the previous day's explosion of a SpaceX Starship spacecraft disrupted about 240 flights, with space debris concerns requiring more than two dozen of those planes to divert. It was the second straight explosion of a SpaceX test launch. The FAA on Thursday issued ground stops that lasted for just over an hour for aircraft departing for four Florida airports -- Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando and Palm Beach. The FAA said the incident resulted in 171 departure delays, 28 flights were diverted, and 40 airborne flights were held an average of 22 minutes while the agency's Debris Response Area was active. The 171 planes had an average delay of 28 minutes. he U.S. Federal Aviation Administration said on Friday that the previous day's explosion of a SpaceX Starship spacecraft disrupted about 240 flights, with space debris concerns requiring more than two dozen of those planes to divert. It was the second straight explosion of a SpaceX test launch. The FAA on Thursday issued ground stops that lasted for just over an hour for aircraft departing for four Florida airports -- Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando and Palm Beach. The FAA said the incident resulted in 171 departure delays, 28 flights were diverted, and 40 airborne flights were held an average of 22 minutes while the agency's Debris Response Area was active. The 171 planes had an average delay of 28 minutes.
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Malaysia committed to continue search for MH370, says govt

Saturday marks 11 years since the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 and Malaysia reaffirms its unwavering commitment to continue the search based on credible leads, striving to provide long-awaited answers to the families of the victims. The Transport Ministry stated that in line with the Cabinet’s decision on Dec 13 last year, the government has approved a proposal by Ocean Infinity (United Kingdom) to recommence the search operation. The new search will cover approximately 15,000 square kilometres in the Southern Indian Ocean. This operation will be conducted on a ‘no find, no fee’ basis, meaning payment will only be made if the aircraft wreckage is discovered. "It remains our responsibility to pursue all credible leads in locating MH370’s final resting place, bringing much-needed closure to the families of those on board,” read the statement on Saturday (March 8). According to the ministry, it was aware of the high public interest in the search effort and was actively finalising a new search agreement, in line with the Malaysian Government's procedures. It also said that the United States National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) have appointed accredited representatives to provide technical support to the mission.
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IndiGo discloses initial European network with leased 787s

IndiGo will mark its foray into long-haul operations with the launch of European flights in July. The Indian operator on 6 March disclosed Manchester and Amsterdam as the first two cities it will be operating to with its fleet of damp-leased Boeing 787-9s. The two cities will see thrice-week flights from Delhi from July, with IndiGo stating that the frequencies “could further grow” when more leased 787s enter the fleet. The low-cost carrier has damp-leased up to four 787-9s from Norse Atlantic Airways, the first of which arrived in India in March and was deployed on flights between Delhi and Bangkok. IndiGo expects to receive the other three widebody aircraft in the second half of the year. The 787 lease is part of an “internationalisation strategy” ahead of its receiving long-range Airbus A321XLRs next year and A350s in 2027. IndiGo will be sole operator on the Delhi-Manchester route, while it will be competing with KLM and Air India - who both operate daily flights - on the Amsterdam route. IndiGo chief Pieter Elbers states: “India has strong ties both with the United Kingdom and the Netherlands for business and tourism; and there is a large Indian diaspora who live in these countries.” He adds: “These new IndiGo long-haul routes are steps towards inching closer to realising our shared vision to build India into a global aviation hub.”
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US ends collective bargaining for 50,000 airport security officers

The Trump administration said Friday it is ending collective bargaining for more than 50,000 Transportation Security Administration officers that staff checkpoints at U.S. airports and other transportation hubs. The Homeland Security Department said the move will remove bureaucratic hurdles, while the union representing workers did not immediately comment. President Donald Trump on Jan. 20 forced out TSA administrator David Pekoske, whom he had named to the job in 2017 and was reappointed by former President Joe Biden. Trump has not yet named a candidate to replace Pekoske. The TSA reached a new seven-year labor deal in May 2024 with the American Federation of Government Employees after nearly a year of negotiations. The Biden administration expanded the scope of bargaining permitted in 2022. Workers got enhanced shift trade options, increased allowance for uniforms and the addition of parental bereavement leave and weather and safety leave.
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Families of MH370 victims in China seek end to decade of torment

Relatives of Chinese passengers lost on Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 gathered in Beijing on Saturday (March 8) seeking answers from authorities 11 years after the plane disappeared in one of aviation's greatest enduring mysteries. The Boeing 777 carrying 239 people disappeared from radar screens on March 8, 2014 while en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. Two-thirds of the passengers were Chinese, while the others were from Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia, and elsewhere. Despite the largest search in aviation history, the plane has never been found. But Malaysian Transport Minister Anthony Loke last month announced that maritime exploration firm Ocean Infinity had resumed the hunt for the missing plane. Family members said they had been in the dark about the new search. "It was promised that we would be informed immediately (but) we can only find out about this kind of news online," 68-year-old Li Eryou told AFP before meeting representatives from China's transport and foreign ministries. "Many families don't even know how to access this information, so they are completely unaware," said Li, who lost his 29-year-old son on the plane. "We all feel extremely angry and frustrated," Li said. Jiang Hui, whose mother was on the plane, said that he was still in the dark about the new search. "When will it start? Where will the search take place? How long will it last? What discoveries have been made? What theories led to the decision to restart the search?" Jiang told reporters. He hoped the search will "bring an end to the 11 years of suffering". The grieving families also gathered Saturday at an intersection in front of the Malaysian embassy in Beijing, the road to which was sealed off by at least 20 police officers.
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AirAsia owner Capital A says $226m private placement is 'done'

A private placement to raise 1b ringgit ($226m) by Malaysia's Capital A, owner of budget airline AirAsia, was "done", Group CEO Tony Fernandes said on Monday, as the company edges closer to completing a reorganisation plan. "We have a 1b (ringgit) placement, where there has been various stories, but I can confirm that it's done," Fernandes said at a press conference on Monday, declining to comment further. Bloomberg last week reported Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund was set to invest $100m in AirAsia, with the firm also in discussions with potential investors from Singapore and Japan. AirAsia was founded in 2001 with two aircraft and has since become one of Asia's largest budget airline operators. Parent company Capital A was hard hit by pandemic travel restrictions and classified by Malaysia's stock exchange as PN17, or financially distressed. It is seeking to exit PN17 status to maintain its stock exchange listing. On Friday, Capital A said Malaysia's stock exchange had approved its plan to exit PN17 status, which Fernandes said on Monday could be achieved by May. That would allow the company to sell its AirAsia aviation business to long-haul unit AirAsia X, which it announced a year ago in a move to consolidate long and short-haul operations under a single AirAsia brand. Before that can be completed, Capital A's shareholders need to approve the plan to exit PN17 status and Malaysia's high court has to approve Capital A's planned capital reduction. Capital A also has to demonstrate two profitable quarters, Fernandes said.
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Hamburg airport halts all flights as ground staff strike

The airport in Hamburg, Germany’s second largest city, said it had canceled all flights on Sunday because of a one-day strike over pay by ground staff called by a labor union that started its action earlier than expected with little warning. The airport had been expected to carry more than 40,000 passengers on Sunday, with 144 arrival flights and 139 departures, but only 10 flights took place before the strike took hold at 6.30 a.m. local time, Hamburg Airport said in a statement, which directed stranded passengers to contact their airlines. The airport said the strike, called by the labor union Verdi, had begun “without any notice” during a busy holiday. “The union is paralyzing the airport and without notice right at the beginning of Hamburg’s spring break,” Katja Bromm, head of communications at the airport, said in a statement. The airport mainly serves European destinations. The union, which represents public-sector service workers, said it had brought the strike forward by a day and minimized warning of the start time to maximize the pressure on the employer and to prevent the airport from bringing in nonunion workers. “We are very much aware that this strike may have hit families who have saved money to go on holiday, but the employer has left us no other choice,” said Lars Stubbe, the Hamburg representative of Verdi. The strike at Hamburg is the first of more than a dozen planned actions at airports across Germany on Monday, including at the country’s busiest airports, Frankfurt, Munich and Berlin Brandenburg, Stubbe said. Around 510,000 people will be affected by the strike on Monday, with more than 3,400 flights canceled, according to A.D.V., the association of Germany’s airport operators, German news media reported. The latest strike represents an escalation after Verdi, the full name of which is the Unified Services Union, staged walkouts in February.
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Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific to launch direct flights to Urumqi from April 28

Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways will launch direct flights to Urumqi in the country’s far west in April, expanding its mainland Chinese destinations to 20. The airline said on Friday that the 5½-hour flight between Hong Kong and Urumqi, capital of Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, would commence on April 28 and run four times a week. “Urumqi is an exciting new addition to our network, directly connecting our home city with an important belt and road hub in northwestern China,” Lavinia Lau, Cathay’s chief customer and commercial officer, said. The Belt and Road Initiative was spearheaded by the Chinese government and endorsed by President Xi Jinping in late 2013, with an aim to improve trade and economic integration across Asia, Europe and Africa. The new route will be operated by Airbus A330-300 aircraft with business and economy classes. Cathay said the airline and its budget arm HK Express would operate more than 290 return flights every week between Hong Kong and mainland cities during the summer.
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Heathrow looks at building shorter third runway in bid to cut costs

Heathrow airport is exploring ways to cut the cost of its multibillion pound expansion plan, including whether to build a shorter third runway than originally planned. The airport is preparing a detailed proposal for a third runway to present to the government by the summer, after chancellor Rachel Reeves threw the government’s weight behind airport expansion in a bid to boost economic growth. As part of the process, Heathrow’s management is reviewing whether it should make changes to its previous expansion blueprint to cut costs, people familiar with the matter said. The previous master plan was costed at £14bn in 2014 prices, but was shelved in 2020 when the pandemic struck. A hugely ambitious project, it involved diverting the nearby M25 motorway into a tunnel, demolishing 750 homes, a primary school and an energy plant. Heathrow’s management have said they would like to stick with this “north-west runway” plan, which has been through years of scrutiny and preparation. But the airport is considering all options before making a final decision, one of the people said. One option would be to still expand to the north west, but to build a shorter third runway to avoid the need to divert the M25 motorway through a tunnel. The airport is exploring whether this option is feasible, the person said. One problem is that it could give the airport less operational flexibility, as some aircraft might not be able to use it, depending on its length.
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JAL-Garuda joint venture business takes off

Japan Airlines and Garuda Indonesia are to launch their joint business partnership in April, which will see the two operators cooperate commercially on flights between Japan and Indonesia. The wide-ranging partnership, first announced in October 2024, covers an expanded codeshare arrangement on flights between the two countries, including on domestic flights operated by both carriers. The partnership also extends to the operators’ frequent flyer programmes. Garuda and JAL are already codeshare partners on services between the two countries, as well as on some domestic routes. Both carriers state: “[We are] committed to provide enhanced flight services to passengers through extensive integrated flight schedules, featuring seamless connections between Indonesia and Japan.” JAL operates 11 weekly flights between Tokyo Narita and Jakarta, with frequencies growing to twice daily from 30 March. Garuda operates daily flights from the Indonesian capital to Tokyo Haneda, as well as from Denpasar Bali to Tokyo Narita. Says Garuda’s commercial director Ade R. Susardi: “Through [this joint business partnership] with Japan Airlines, Garuda Indonesia plans to strengthen its market share, especially in East Asia. It aligns with our efforts to attract the international tourists [visiting] from Japan to explore Indonesia’s destinations ranging from Medan, Makassar, Surabaya, Yogyakarta, and other must-visit cities to support Indonesia’s sustainable tourism development.”
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It could be 2030 before Dublin Airport cap is raised to 40m, DAA chief claims

It could be 2030 before Dublin Airport gets planning permission to grow passenger numbers to 40m, Kenny Jacobs, head of DAA, has told the Sunday Business Post. In the meantime, the airport will welcome 20,000 fewer tourists for St Patrick’s Day celebrations this week as capacity constraints at the airport continue, he said. In recent weeks Jacobs has spoken to two big US airlines who “can’t get their head around the winter cap” that is currently in place. Jacob’s warning comes as Darragh O’Brien, the new transport minister, is to meet attorney general Rossa Fanning in the coming days to find a “viable but sustainable” solution to removing the passenger cap, the Business Post can confirm. Taoiseach Micheál Martin will cite the contribution of big Irish-based companies like Ryanair and Aercap in defence of Ireland’s trade surplus with the US, when he meets US president Donald Trump on Wednesday in Washington DC, the Sunday Business Post is reporting. Officials at the Department of Foreign Affairs have drawn up an extensive document outlining Ireland’s economic footprint in the US, which shows there are 203,000 employees in Irish-owned companies in the US. Companies identified as having a big footprint already in the US by officials include Eaton, Kingspan, and Kerry Group.
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China loses private jets as other Asian growth spots emerge

A sharp fall in the number of private jets based in China in recent years shows the impact a weakening domestic economy, anti-corruption drives and the pandemic have had on the country's wealthiest, according to business aviation industry data and experts At the end of last year there were a third fewer private jets based in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau than the 2017 peak of 481 planes, according to data from business aviation consultancy and broker Asian Sky Group. In the same period, the number of private jets in the rest of the Asia-Pacific region grew by 20%, led by India, Australia and Japan. Business jets are specially designed and customisable aircraft bought or chartered by cash-rich and time-poor companies and wealthy individuals. Flying privately costs from a couple to many thousands of dollars per hour, depending on the size of the aircraft. Even used Falcon 8X jets, a popular long-range model made by France's Dassault Aviation, can cost about $42m, according to online listings. Much of the reduction in China has come from aircraft being sold, such as those owned by property firms like China Evergrande Group after the sector slipped into an unprecedented debt crisis in mid-2021. Others were moved to places like Singapore and Japan, mirroring an exodus of wealthy Chinese abroad in recent years. "We've picked up some nice management contracts from family owners, family offices that have moved down from Hong Kong into the more secure Singapore region," Stefan Wood, executive director at private aviation firm Air 7 Asia, told a business aviation conference in Singapore this week.
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Why Nepal’s China-built airport is ‘cautiously optimistic’ over first international flight

A China-built airport in Nepal’s second-largest town is set for its first scheduled international flight, two years after its inauguration raised hopes of attracting more carriers to fly directly to Pokhara. Himalaya Airlines will launch a weekly flight from Pokhara International Airport to Lhasa on March 31, marking a significant milestone for the airport. In a statement on Monday, the airline said the flight would improve connectivity between the countries and attract more Chinese tourists to Nepal. Tourism entrepreneurs in Pokhara, desperate for a commercial international flight from the new airport, welcomed the announcement and called it “long overdue”, but raised concerns about the route’s sustainability. “We’re excited but cautiously optimistic,” said Chet Bahadur Karki, general secretary of the Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents of Gandaki province. “The airline could have connected Pokhara to Chinese cities with better onward connections or labour-intensive markets in the Gulf,” he added. “Nevertheless, we will do our best to promote the Pokhara-Lhasa route to make it sustainable.” Pokhara, a picturesque town 200km west of the capital Kathmandu, has sought an international airport since the 1970s. However, progress only began in 2016 when Nepal and China signed a loan agreement for its construction. The US$216m airport opened in January 2023, but has seen only a few chartered international flights, mainly from China, for athletes attending sporting events in Pokhara. The absence of international flights had sparked concerns over the airport’s viability. Many speculated if it would suffer a similar fate as Sri Lanka’s China-built aviation hub – the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport – which had taken losses since opening in 2013 due to low demand. Aviation analyst Hemant Arjyal said Pokhara needed a large influx of passengers from surrounding regions to make it operational, adding that fewer travel restrictions to and from Tibet would also help.
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Airfares in Thailand likely to remain pricey

Airfares are expected to remain high this year based on rising operating costs and supply chain disruptions, similar to last year when higher fares drove the revenue of major airlines operating in Thailand. Santisuk Klongchaiya, CE of Asia Aviation, the majority shareholder of Thai AirAsia, said higher airfares were the main contributor to an improving financial performance in 2024, with the airline securing 49.4b baht in revenue from sales and services, up 20% year-on-year. According to the airline’s report, rising costs from airport charges and ground handling fees would continue to affect airfares this year, along with high travel demand. The aviation industry’s supply chain disruption is expected to persist, resulting in stable airfares or an increase of no more than 10%. Last year the average airfare on Thai AirAsia increased by 10% year-on-year to 1,967 baht, surpassing the 2019 level by 33%. The airline recorded its first positive core operating profit since the pandemic, earning more than 3b baht in 2024. Thai AirAsia carried 20.8m passengers with an average load factor of 91%, earning a 40% share of the domestic market. Santisuk said the airline targets 23-24m passengers this year with a 90% load factor. Thai AirAsia projects 15% growth in revenue from sales and services, driven by fleet expansion and a favourable fare outlook.
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Australia’s smaller airports rife with vulnerabilities, former Qantas security head says, after alleged gunman boarded Jetstar fligh

Australia’s smaller and regional airports are rife with security vulnerabilities, industry insiders have warned, after the dramatic citizen’s arrest of a teenager who allegedly boarded a Jetstar flight with a shotgun and ammunition. Police charged a 17-year-old Victorian boy with a range of offences, including unlawfully taking control of an aircraft, orchestrating a bomb hoax and possessing a firearm. There is no permanent police presence – either state or federal – stationed at Avalon airport, near Geelong, about 50km south-west of Melbourne, where the alleged offences occurred. This is the case for most of the nation’s airports that are not designated to meet the security threshold required for such measures. The lack of police has raised alarms within the aviation sector. On Thursday afternoon, the teenager allegedly broke through the airport’s security fence dressed in hi-vis and with tools. Witnesses said they believed he was a maintenance worker. He then walked up to a plane on the tarmac – Jetstar flight 610 – where about 150 passengers had boarded the Airbus A320 bound for Sydney.Shortly after entering the cabin, crew and passengers noticed he was allegedly carrying a shotgun and ammunition. Former shearer and boxer Garry Clark, from seat 1C, tackled him to the ground. Clark and other passengers performed a citizen’s arrest, and had to wait for state police from the local area command 9km away to arrive and take the teen into custody. The Transport Workers Union, a key aviation union that represents ground workers among others, sought an urgent meeting with Jetstar on Friday to call for a review of security arrangements at Avalon airport, operated by transport logistics company Linfox. While it hosts few commercial flights – about 20 daily departures and arrivals combined – these are all operated by budget carrier Jetstar, which markets the airport as serving Melbourne. Avalon’s air fares have a slightly cheaper base rate than services from Melbourne airport in Tullamarine, a shorter 14km from the city.
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Boeing must face shareholder class action following MAX 9 blowout

A federal judge on Friday certified a class action accusing Boeing of prioritizing profit over safety and overstating its commitment to safe aircraft, prior to the January 2024 mid-air cabin panel blowout on an Alaskan Airlines 737 MAX 9. U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema in Alexandria, Virginia, said shareholders led by Rhode Island's state treasurer who owned Boeing stock between January 7, 2021 and January, 8, 2024 may sue as a group for damages. Shareholders wanted the class period to begin in 2019, but Brinkema said it should start when Boeing resolved a U.S. Department of Justice criminal case related to MAX safety. Class actions can allow greater recoveries at lower cost than individual lawsuits. Boeing shareholders said the company's misleading statements inflated its stock price after two MAX planes crashed in October 2018 and March 2019, killing 346.
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Boeing ties employee incentive plan to company-wide performance

Annual bonuses for more than 100,000 Boeing employees this year will be tied to company-wide performance, rather than by business unit, as in previous years. Eighty percent of the bonuses are tied to Boeing's financial performance, with the remaining 20% tied to progress on improving safety and quality, and program execution, according to the 2025 proxy statement filed on Friday with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The announced changes come two days after CEO Kelly Ortberg told employees the company's myriad business units have to work together as part of a wider cultural shift driven in large part by employee feedback that he said he expects to be "brutal to leadership." Ortberg's total compensation in 2024 was about $18.4 million, including a $1.2m signing bonus and $525,000 in salary since he joined the company in August. He also received $313,000 to relocate to Seattle to be closer to Boeing's commercial airplane production. The rest of his compensation was in equity grants. Former CEO Dave Calhoun received $15m in total compensation. He left the company in the wake of a mid-air panel blowout on a nearly new 737 MAX, which revealed widespread quality problems.
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Sizing up: how stadiums, hospitals and airlines are adapting to rise in obesity

With a study predicting that by 2050 more than half of adults and a third of children and young people worldwide will be overweight or obese, a swathe of industries are adapting to accommodate larger bodies. From hospitals to transport, stadiums to crematoriums, here are some of the adjustments being made.Airlines are increasingly trying to squeeze more passengers on to flights as they respond to rising demand, and aeroplane seats are getting smaller as a result. Some airlines have rebranded their seats as “slimline” – in Air Canada’s introduction of slimline seats, widths dropped from 47cm (18.5ins) to 43cm. As a result, plane travel has become increasingly difficult for obese passengers, with many airlines suggesting larger passengers book two seats instead of one, often at full price, and offering seatbelt extensions. Although not specifically targeted at larger passengers, Ryanair allows flyers to book two flight tickets, one under the name “extra comfort seat”, giving them the width of two seats and more personal space. Air France offers a 25% discount on extra seats for larger-bodied passengers if “the width of the seat is not sufficient”. Under Canadian airline rules, obese passengers travelling domestically can request an extra seat free of charge if they provide their BMI, height, weight and seated width measurements.
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