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• US drops Biden plan to require passenger compensation for delayed flights

  The Trump administration announced on Friday that it is formally withdrawing the plan of his predecessor, which required airlines to compensate passengers in cash when carriers cause U.S. flights to be disrupted. The U.S. Transportation Department, under the then-President Joe Biden in December 2024 sought public comments on drafting rules that would require airlines to pay up to $775 per hour for delays exceeding three hours domestically. USDOT announced its intention to withdraw the proposal in September. USDOT explained its decision to not proceed with the proposal on Friday by stating that it would create "unnecessary regulations". Last month, 18 Democratic Senators urged President Trump to not abandon the compensation plan. The letter, signed by Democratic Senators Richard Blumenthal and Maria Cantwell and Ed Markey, said: "This is an idea that makes sense. When an airline's mistake causes unanticipated expenses for families, it should provide accommodations and help cover those costs." In the United States, airlines are required to refund customers for cancelled flights but not compensate them for delayed flights. All four countries - the European Union, Canada and Britain - have rules on airline compensation for delays. No major U.S. airlines currently guarantee cash compensation in the event of significant flight delays. USDOT stated Friday that by abandoning the compensation program, it would allow airlines to compete based on the services they provide and the compensation they offer to passengers. This would be more cost-effective for airlines than imposing minimum requirements on these services and compensation. USDOT announced in September that it would consider rescinding the Biden regulations, which required airlines and ticket agents disclose service fees along with airfares. The government also intends to reduce the regulatory burden on ticket agents and airlines by defining a flight cancellation, which entitles customers to a refund of their tickets. It will also review rules regarding ticket pricing and advertising. Airlines have pushed Trump's administration to go even further, and praised their decision to cancel the Biden Plan. (Reporting and editing by Franklin Paul, Alison Williams, and David Shepardson)

• Singapore Airlines CEO: Boeing 777-9 delays will not have a major impact on the airline

  Goh Choon Phong, the CEO of Singapore Airlines, said that the airline does not expect a significant impact due to the delayed delivery of Boeing 777-9 aircraft. "SIA's fleet plan has always included flexibility. In this case, despite the delay, he did not expect any major impacts. Boeing has pushed back the delivery date of its long delayed 777X programme to 2027. Goh refused to disclose compensation discussions between Boeing and the airline. He said: "As to delivery delays or future aircraft supply, I'd just say that SIA is in a privileged situation as one of the top carriers. You can expect us to receive some preferential treatment." Singapore Airlines reported Thursday that it had a Profits for the first half of this year fell by 68% Losses at Air India in India, rising costs, and increased competition have all affected the airline. (Reporting and editing by John Mair; Xinghui KOK)

• US Airlines reduces flight reductions for Friday despite FAA order of 6%

  Cirium, an aviation analytics company, and airline officials report that U.S. carriers have cut fewer flights on Friday than required by the requirement to cut 6% domestic flights from the 40 busiest American Airports. Federal Aviation Administration announced late Wednesday that it would not increase cancellation requirements and freeze mandatory flight reductions at 6%. This was in line with what had been previously announced. Cirium reported that airlines cancelled just 1.4% of flights for Friday after cancelling 3.5% on Wednesday and Thursday. The FAA may revise or add to the order. United Airlines announced that it had cancelled 134 flights on Friday, almost 3%, after cancelling 22 flights on Thursday. The FAA has not yet commented. Under condition of anonymity, other airlines confirmed that they did not plan to reduce 6% of their flights on Friday. Prior to the FAA revising its order, airlines were expected to cancel 10% of flights in the 40 busiest international airports and 8% of flights within the United States on Thursday. The FAA decided to reduce the number of cancellations on Wednesday after air traffic control absences had decreased dramatically in recent weeks, just before Congress gave final approval to an agreement to reopen government which was signed by President Donald Trump. The FAA said that it would continue to evaluate whether the system could gradually return to normal operation. FlightAware's flight tracking website reported that airlines canceled 1,020 of their flights on Thursday, in accordance with the FAA requirement. Cirium reported that carriers had canceled flights by 4:20 pm. ET only cancelled 371 flights on Friday. The FAA reported staffing problems at Reagan Washington National Airport and Newark Airports on Thursday, causing delays at both airports. However, there were significantly fewer issues compared to before the government reopened. There are about 3,500 fewer air traffic controllers than the FAA needs to meet its target staffing levels. Before the shutdown, many had already been working six-day weekends and mandatory overtime. FlightAware reports that flight operations have improved, with only 3,000 delays on Friday, compared to 4,000 on Tuesday, and almost 10,000 on Monday. Since October 1, when the 43 day shutdown began, air traffic absences led to tens-of-thousands of cancellations and delays. (Reporting and editing by Leslie Adler & Rod Nickel; Reporting by David Shepardson)

• Boeing ordered to pay $28 million more to the family of a 737 MAX crash victims

  A federal court jury in Chicago on Wednesday ordered Boeing to pay over $28 million to a family of a United Nations environment worker who died in the crash of a 737 MAX in Ethiopia in 2019. The verdict given to the Garg family is the first of dozens of lawsuits that were filed following the crash in India and the one in Indonesia in 2018 which killed 346 people. According to the attorneys representing the family, a deal was reached between the parties on Wednesday morning. Garg's parents will receive 35.85 million dollars - the total verdict plus 26% in interest - while Boeing will not be appealing. Boeing did not respond immediately to a comment request. In a joint statement, Shanin Specter, Elizabeth Crawford and the family's attorneys said that the verdict "provides accountability to the public for Boeing's wrongdoing." Her lawyers claim that Garg was only 32 years old when Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crashed shortly after takeoff from Addis Ababa in Ethiopia to Nairobi in Kenya. The lawsuit alleged that the 737 MAX was defectively engineered and that Boeing did not warn the public and passengers about its dangers. Ethiopian Airlines Flight 610 crashed in the Java Sea, Indonesia, five months after Lion Air Flight 610. Both crashes were caused by an automated flight control system. According to the company, more than 90% civil lawsuits relating to the two accidents have been settled. This includes lawsuits, deferred prosecution agreements and other payments. According to their lawyer, Boeing settled three lawsuits filed by families of victims who also died in the Ethiopian Airlines crash. Terms of the settlements have not been released. Reporting by Diana Novak Jones, Editing by Jamie Freed

• US court temporarily blocks USDOT's order to disband Delta and Aeromexico joint-venture

  The U.S. Court of Appeals temporarily stopped an order issued by a government agency to Delta Air Lines, Aeromexico and other companies to dissolve a joint venture before January 1, 2019. The airlines sued the Transportation Department to stop the order to cancel the joint venture, which has been in place for nearly nine years and allows the carriers to coordinate flight schedules, pricing, and capacity between the U.S. USDOT issued the order in September as part of a series of U.S. actions against Mexican aviation, citing concerns about competition. Carriers said that they would be unable to recover substantial costs even if the court upheld this arrangement. The three-judge panel's brief order cited an earlier court decision regarding the standard to temporarily block administrative actions. Delta, Aeromexico, and USDOT declined to comment immediately. The Justice and Transportation Departments referred to the joint venture as "legalized collusion," which controls "almost 60 percent of operations at the 4th largest international gateway into and out of the United States," citing Mexico City flight. Delta, which owns a 20% stake Aeromexico has also argued President Donald Trump’s administration holds the joint venture to a higher standard than other ventures such as United Airlines opens a new tab and ANA. According to the government, problems that could arise from this venture include increased fares on some markets, reduced capacities and difficulties for U.S. airlines due to insufficient competition. Separately, last month the Trump Administration revoked the approval of 13 routes for Mexican carriers to enter the U.S. It also canceled all passenger and cargo flights from Mexico City’s Felipe Angeles International Airport bound for the United States. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated that Mexico "illegally cancelled and frozen U.S. carrier flight for three years, without consequence." Claudia Sheinbaum, the Mexican president, said that she was not in agreement with the U.S.'s decision to revoke the approval of 13 routes. (Reporting and editing by David Shepardson)

• US Senate holds hearing on impact of government shutdown on aviation safety

  Next Wednesday, a U.S. Senate Subcommittee is holding a hearing on the impact the shutdown has had on aviation safety. This comes after disruptions to thousands of domestic flights affecting millions of passengers. The committee confirmed a report that the hearing will be held on November 19, and include testimony by Nick Daniels, President of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, as well as Chris Sununu. Chris Sununu is the chief executive officer of Airlines for America. This trade group represents major airlines. Last week, the Federal Aviation Administration took an unprecedented step by requiring that flights be cut by 4% at 40 of the busiest airports due to safety concerns relating to the increasing absence of air traffic controllers. Flight cuts will increase to 8% Thursday and 10% Friday. Some airlines believe the FAA is going to reduce the planned flight cuts on Thursday by 6%, and then phase out the order once the air traffic staffing increases. The shutdown of the federal government is expected to be over by Wednesday evening. Sununu stated that airlines would like Congress to make sure air traffic controllers get paid in the event of a government shutdown, "to ensure this does not happen again." The head of General Aviation Manufacturers Association will also testify. Since October 1, when the shutdown started, tens thousands of flights have been cancelled or delayed. This has affected more than 5.2 millions passengers. Due to the absence of air traffic controllers, 1.2 millions passengers had their flights delayed or cancelled last weekend. Moran, the chair of the subcommittee for aviation, stated that "the shutdown has had a severe impact on our already fragile industry and it will take some time to recover from its effects." He said it was important to "address the damage done and examine the long-term impacts of the shutdown." Ted Cruz, the chair of the Senate Commerce Committee, said that the FAA and Transportation secretary Sean Duffy ordered the flight cancellations "because the FAA relies upon safety data to keep the system secure was blinking in red." The longest shutdown in U.S. History, 43 days, forced 13,000 air traffic control agents and 50,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents to work for free. There are about 3,500 fewer air traffic controllers than the FAA's target staffing level. Before the shutdown, many had already been working six-day work weeks and mandatory overtime. Congress also approved $12.5 billion for the rehabilitation of the U.S. Air Traffic Control System which has experienced numerous technical failures. (Reporting and editing by Chris Reese, Jamie Freed, and David Shepardson)

• Delta sees strong current quarter despite flight disruptions

  Delta Air Lines is expecting a solid fourth quarter, despite the flight disruptions due to the shutdown of the federal government, CEO Ed Bastian said on CNBC Wednesday. Bastian stated that, while disruptions to Delta's business would be costly for the airline industry and economy as a whole, they wouldn't "wipe" out its quarterly profits. His comments come after a recent wave of cancellations caused by the absence of air traffic controllers. Delta Airlines said that its operations recovered after the weekend disruptions caused by staffing issues with air traffic controllers and seasonal weather conditions in Atlanta, among other places. The longest shutdown in U.S. History has forced 13,000 air-traffic controllers and 50,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents to work for free. The number of flight cancellations dropped sharply on Wednesday just hours before the House of Representatives voted on a measure to end an unprecedented government shutdown. (Reporting from Nathan Gomes, Bengaluru. Editing by Shailesh Kumar and Alan Barona.)

• US flight cancellations drop as absences of air traffic controllers shrink

  U.S. flights cancellations dropped sharply in the past day, as the absence of air traffic controllers decreased just hours before Wednesday's vote by the House of Representatives to end the record-breaking government shutdown. The United States' airlines canceled almost 900 flights Wednesday, the lowest number in six days. This was in accordance with a Federal Aviation Administration directive that they cancel 6% flights at the busiest 40 airports in order to address safety concerns. According to some airlines, the FAA may reduce its planned 8% cut in flights on Thursday from 8% to 6%. The FAA reported that air traffic control absences were responsible for only 1% of Tuesday's delays, as opposed to 5% in average before the shutdown. Only 6% of Thursday's flights have been canceled by several airlines. DEADLINES RAISED SHORTLY On Friday, the mandatory flight reductions will increase to 10%. Flight operations have improved dramatically with only 750 delays in Wednesday's flights compared to 4,000 on Tuesday, and almost 10,000 on Monday. Sean Duffy, Transportation Secretary, said that air traffic controllers would receive a lump-sum payment of 70% of their past pay within 48 hours after the shutdown ends. Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian said to CNBC that he believes the aviation system will return to normalcy this weekend. However, he added that the airlines will incur a large amount of money due the recent cancellations. Bastian stated that "by the weekend I think everything should be in great shape." Since October 1, when the shutdown started, air traffic controller absences led to thousands of cancellations and delays. Over the weekend, air traffic controllers' absences caused 1.2 million flights to be delayed or cancelled. The longest shutdown in U.S. History has forced 13,000 air-traffic controllers and 50,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents to work for free. The FAA has about 3,500 fewer air traffic controllers than the targeted number. Before the shutdown, many had already been working six-day work weeks and mandatory overtime.

• Waymo launches robotaxi freeway service in San Francisco, LA, Phoenix

  Alphabet Waymo announced on Wednesday that it would begin offering robotaxi rides using freeways in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Phoenix as it expands amid competition within the self-driving sector. Waymo is expanding its operations in San Jose to include the Mineta San Jose International Airport. This airport will be the second in the service area, after Phoenix Sky Harbor. Zoox, backed by Amazon, offers free robotaxi rides around and on the Las Vegas Strip. Tesla is expanding its robotaxi service to include safety monitors and driver. Waymo, the company behind the robotaxi service that is offered in the U.S. for a fee, does not use safety drivers or monitors in vehicles. It has a fleet of robotaxis with over 1,500 vehicles. Waymo's growth has been slow but steady over the years. Like its competitors, the company has also faced federal investigations for unexpected driving behaviors. Even though operating autonomous vehicles in cities with many pedestrians, intersections, and unpredictable situations is more difficult, mistakes or malfunctions on freeways at high speeds could have serious consequences. Waymo said that its architecture allowed for vehicles to remain in control if a system failed. It added that it had developed new protocols for freeways with local highway patrols. Waymo announced that freeway rides would be initially available to users who had early access. It said that when a route is faster than a standard freeway, it can be matched to a trip on a freeway, resulting in a smoother ride, quicker and more efficient. (Reporting from Akash Sriram, Bengaluru; Abhirup Roy, San Francisco; editing by Chris Reese).

• Report shows that holiday travel demand is down across the board.

  Even high-income travelers may not be as eager to travel this holiday season, according to a Deloitte report released on Wednesday. The report shows that Americans plan on taking fewer trips in the coming year and spending less money on them due to growing financial worries. Report: The number of holiday trips planned has decreased to an average of 1.83 from 2.14 last years, and the average budget for planned travel is down 18% at $2,334. The report stated that the tighter budgets are rooted in a more tempered money mood. Nearly one fifth of households with incomes over $100,000 per year, or wealthy Americans, reported that they were in a worse financial situation than a previous year. About 80% plan to opt for cheaper travel options. Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, as well as Marriott International, a hotel operator, all pointed out that there was a solid demand in the last two months for premium offerings, such a premium seats and luxurious hotels. This trend could be changing, with a disproportionate effect on airlines and tour operators, since high-income travellers tend to spend more money and travel further. The prolonged U.S. shutdown has also put holiday travel at risk. According to airline estimates, the government shutdown forced airlines to reduce flights and delay 3.2 million passengers. The report found that millennials were the most likely to adopt generative AI for travel planning. They have increased their adoption by 1.5 times in comparison with 2024. The report found that while travelers are most likely to use generative AI for finding activities and attractions, restaurant recommendations were the most likely to be followed.

• US Airlines cancel 1,200 flights on Tuesday due to the government shutdown

  The government has been imposing mandatory flight reductions in response to safety concerns. This is the fifth day that the airlines have cancelled more than 1,000 flights. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) instructed airlines last week to reduce 4% of flights daily starting Friday, November 7 at 40 major airports due to staffing problems in air traffic control. The reductions in flights increased to 6% on February 2. On Thursday, the flight reductions would be 8% and on Friday, they will be 10%. The FAA and airlines are discussing when and how to reduce and eliminate the flight cuts as the record-breaking 42-day shutdown of the government nears its end. Sources said that the FAA is considering a variety of options for ending or reducing the flight reductions. The Senate approved legislation on Monday night to end the shutdown. It also funded the government until January 30. The House will take up the bill on Wednesday. Since the beginning of the shutdown on Oct. 1, air traffic absences led to thousands of cancellations and delays. 1.2 million passengers experienced flight delays or cancellations over the weekend due to air traffic controllers' absences. FlightAware's flight tracking website reports that airlines delayed over 1,300 flights Tuesday, after cancelling 2,900 flights Monday and delaying 9600. The airline officials said that the shortage of air traffic control personnel improved dramatically on Tuesday, after a total of more than 20 issues on Monday. According to the FAA, there was only one staffing issue on Tuesday. On Monday, Donald Trump warned that he would dock the pay for any controllers who failed to return to work. He also welcomed the resignation of employees who were not punctual in their attendance. The longest shutdown in U.S. History has forced 13,000 air-traffic controllers and 50,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents to work for free. The FAA has about 3,500 air-traffic controllers less than the targeted number. Before the shutdown, many had already been working six-day weekends and mandatory overtime. (Reporting and editing by Franklin Paul, David Gregorio and David Shepardson)

• Boeing maintains strong delivery pace throughout October

  Boeing announced on Tuesday that the company delivered 53 jets during October, bringing their total deliveries for the year up to 493. They also received 15 new orders in November. The U.S. aircraft manufacturer delivered 39 of the best-selling 737 MAX jets. Nine were to Southwest Airlines, and five were to Ryanair Ireland's budget airline. One 737 NG was delivered to the U.S. Navy for conversion into a P-8 patrol plane. Boeing delivered 13 widebody aircraft: seven 787 Dreamliners and two 777 Freighters, as well as four 767s. The company is on course to deliver its highest number of deliveries since 2018, when the company delivered 806 aircraft. Boeing's delivery numbers plummeted the following year when the 737 MAX aircraft was grounded after two fatal crashes. Boeing's production was destabilized by a series quality and safety crises as well as a COVID-19 pandemic. Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg is focusing the commercial aircraft division of Boeing on improving quality production by 2025. Federal regulators recently approved the company's request to increase its 737 production to 42 planes per month from 38. Airbus is still ahead of Boeing, with 585 planes delivered in the first ten months of this year. Boeing's order books were quiet in October. Eight 737s, seven 787s and seven cancellations of seven 737s were logged by the company. This leaves a total of eight new orders. Boeing has so far received 320 orders of its 787 Dreamliner this year. This is the second most 787 orders Boeing has received this year behind the 369 it received in 2007. The company has expanded its South Carolina production facility, where the 787 is assembled. Two Central Asian airlines have announced their plans to buy more 787s. Boeing booked 782 new order through the first 10 month of this year after accounting for cancellations and convertions. The order backlog of the company is now 5,911. Boeing shares closed Monday at $194.81, up 0.1%. The stock has gained 13.4% this year.