The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration approved the Boeing 737 MAX 7 on Monday, marking a major milestone for the American planemaker who has been waiting years to sell its smallest version. Certification of the jetliner was several years behind schedule. Boeing once said that it expected to have the plane approved by the end of 2022. Boeing announced last month that the engine anti-ice fix for its 737 MAX was 'in the final stages' of regulatory certification. FAA Deputy Director Chris Rocheleau said last month that the MAX 10 was "right behind" the MAX 7 in terms of approval. Cirium,...

The union that represents?flight attendants for Canada's WestJet has reached a tentative?deal on Monday with the second largest carrier in the country, ending a striking which led to hundreds of cancelled flights during the busy summer travel season. The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which represents 4,400 flight crew members at the carrier, wanted to pay them from the moment they check-in until the moment they clock out, rather than just for the time their aircraft is in motion. WestJet has not disclosed details about 'the tentative agreement', which will be presented to the cabin crew for a vote...

Companies and industry sources said that planemakers, airlines, and repair shops were conserving aircraft glass after an incident occurred at a California factory. The incident 'worsened shortages for a part required for both new aircraft and regular maintenance. GKN Aerospace, a leading supplier of cockpit and passenger window products in the world, stopped production at its Los Angeles suburb factory late in May after an overheating fuel tank caused fears of explosion, forcing 50,000 residents to evacuate for several days. Sources and executives stated that the incident did not affect new plane production or airline operations but it caused delays...

These are the most popular?stories from the Wall Street Journal. The Wall Street Journal has not'verified' these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. The U.S. Treasury Department and Japan's Ministry of Finance conducted a joint intervention in foreign exchange to purchase the yen. German startup Agile Robots is expecting its revenue to double this year, from 300 million Euros. This will help it become profitable within two to three years. Acting Attorney-General Todd Blanche announced that he had formally rescinded the $1.8 billion "anti weaponization fund"?that was causing an impasse with two Republican senators who refused to confirm...

Officials in Indonesia continue to search for the 28 people who are still missing after a ferry caught on fire near?Indonesia?s Madura Island, according to an official. Authorities had reported that the KM Mutiara Sentosa, which was carrying 271 'passengers', was traveling from Indonesia's second-largest?city of Surabaya in East Java province, to Makassar in South Sulawesi when it caught fire. Madura Island is located just off the northeastern coast Java. Arman Asmara, Director of Marine and Air Affairs at East Java Police, said that 28 of the 271 people on board remain missing. Five confirmed deaths and 238 were rescued....

WeRide, a Chinese company that specializes in autonomous driving technologies, announced on Monday it will enter Denmark via a partnership with GreenMobility. This would extend its European footprint to a sixth country as Chinese firms specializing in'self-driving' technology accelerate their overseas expansion. China's auto-driving companies are now looking to Europe as a major growth market, after a previous push into the Gulf Region. They want to expand their market beyond their own home market, amid increasing competition and regulatory scrutiny. According to a statement from the company, under the partnership, which is subject to regulatory approval, WeRide,?GreenMobility, and other partners...

Trade sources and shipping data showed that a 'Panama-flagged' tanker carrying Russian naphtha attempted to pass through the Bab-el-Mandeb strait during 'the last week of July. The ship then changed course to sail instead around Africa, according to LSEG. Data shows that the Suezmax vessel Sea 'Icon' loaded 100,000 tons of naphtha from Ust-Luga, Russia, on July 1 for shipment to Asia. The Arab Maritime Petroleum Transport Company, based in Kuwait, controls the tanker. The company did not respond immediately to an email asking for comment. The 'tanker' made a U-turn as it approached the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, which is a...

Flight attendants at Canada's WestJet went 'on strike' on Sunday, after failing to reach an agreement with the country's second-largest airline. This resulted in the cancellation of flights during busy summer travel seasons. The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which represents 4,400 flight-attendants at the carrier owned by Onex Corp., gave a 72-hour notice on Thursday, signaling that there could be a strike if negotiations failed to yield an agreement. In a Sunday Facebook post announcing the?strike, the?union didn't provide any details. CUPE and airline 'didn't immediately respond to emailed requests for comments outside of business hours. The union...

WestJet Canada announced 'on Friday that it has begun to park Boeing 737 planes as negotiations with flight attendants have failed to result in an agreement. This could lead a labor disruption. Cabin crew could go on strike as early as 12:01 am August 2 for the Calgary-based Onex Corp. The Canadian Union of Public Employees, who represents WestJet flight attendants, said that if negotiations fail to result in a'resolution' over the dispute regarding unpaid work, they will strike at 6:01 AM Mountain Time (6:01 GMT) on August 2. The union wants cabin crew paid from when they check-in to...

IndiGo, India’s largest airline, announced 'on Friday' that it will discontinue its wide-body operations on October 25, and end its damp 'lease' agreement with Norway’s 'Norse Atlantic Airways' 'on October 31. This is a scaled-back version of a program launched last year in support of its long-haul goals. It said that a worsening operating climate, driven by geopolitical conflicts, had increased costs and affected the economics. IndiGo is responsible for the cabin crew in a "damp lease", while the lessor provides the jets and pilots. The airline stated that "Airspace constraints and increased fuel costs have impacted schedule integrity, connectivity,...

The CEO of 'Amadeus' said that bookings for air travel were improving on Friday, after the Iran war had impacted the company's second quarter results. He added that the worst effects are likely to be over. Amadeus reported earlier that the turmoil in the Middle East led to an increase in cancellations and air traffic disruptions. This resulted in a 7.6% drop in its quarterly bookings. "Our 'feeling' is that the worst already happened with all these cancellations, adjustments of routes and adjustment of capacity of the airlines," said CEO Luis Maroto in a conference call with analysts. He cited...

IAG, the owner of British Airways, reported a 16 percent drop in its'second-quarter profits' on a Friday, due to soaring fuel prices and a weak travel demand tied to the Middle East conflict. It now expects capacity to remain flat this year. IAG, the company that owns Iberia, Aer Lingus and Iberia, said its fuel costs would be between EUR8.3 billion and EUR8.6?billion for the entire year, which is a little lower than the EUR9 billion estimate made in May. The company reported an operating profit of EUR1.41billion ($1.62billion) for the third quarter. This is lower than the EUR1.68billion reported...