A 'pilots' union and an aviation consultant have said that airlines affected by air traffic control staff shortages need to do more to prevent delays from snowballing to larger disruptions. This comes as lawmakers prepare to discuss reforms in the U.S. aviation sector on Tuesday. Bryan Bedford, the head of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), is scheduled to testify in front of a U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on a planned overhaul for air traffic control that will cost $12.5 billion. This comes a day after an official watchdog raised concerns about budget shortfalls. Staffing shortages and technological issues have led...

The aviation industry is preparing for a difficult winter after Latvian airline airBaltic filed Chapter 11 procedures on Monday. This is because the Iran War?continues pushing up jet fuel prices. U.S. 'war with Iran' has caused the worst airline crisis since the COVID-19 Pandemic in terms of costs. AirBaltic was the first European carrier to declare bankruptcy during the conflict, while U.S. rival Spirit collapsed in may after seeking protection prior to the war. The margins of airlines are relatively small compared to those in other industries, making them more vulnerable to geopolitical instability, especially in winter, when bookings and...

Airbus' Asia-Pacific President said on Tuesday that the geopolitical and supply chain challenges have not affected aircraft demand or deliveries. Anand Stanley, Airbus Asia-Pacific's President, said that the demand for Airbus aircraft in Asia-Pacific was "continuing to be strong". He made this statement during a Hong Kong briefing on Airbus' 2026-2045 Market Forecast. He said: "Not only do we see an increase in deliveries, but also a willingness to accept deliveries. This is not just in Asia-Pacific. We are also continuing to deliver in the Middle East." Airbus predicts that 42,000 new aircraft will be needed globally in the next...

AirBaltic has been in discussions with the labour unions in order to reach an agreement regarding an "adjustment of?the workforce", Chief Executive Erno Hilden said on?Monday, after the Latvian airline announced that it had voluntarily entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings. Hilden stated that a reduction in capacity would lead to a shift in the workforce. It's time to come up with some numbers after all that. AirBaltic filed under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code on Monday in New York. It is seeking to restructure its debt, avoid creditors and survive a 'deepening crisis within the sector brought about...

Wizz Air's CEO Jozsef Varradi said that the bankruptcy of airBaltic offers few, if any, opportunities and expects other European airlines to be affected by this. These airlines were unable?to hedge against high fuel prices. ?on Monday. Varadi, speaking at a conference organized by the International Society of Transport Aircraft Trading, said that the recent spike in oil prices "sucks liquidity from the industry very quickly." "I believe they'll be in a difficult situation." Wizz, the Latvian state-owned airline and airBaltic are located at opposite ends of Europe’s vast aviation market. Both have been shaped over the past two decades...

The aviation industry is bracing itself for a difficult winter after Latvian airline airBaltic filed Chapter 11 procedures?on Monday. Jet fuel prices are continuing to rise due to the Iran War. AirBaltic, a U.S. competitor, filed for bankruptcy in May, after seeking protection prior to the war. The margins of airlines are relatively small compared to those in other industries, making them more vulnerable to geopolitical instability, especially in winter, when bookings and travel drop, and they lose the money they made in summer. SAVING RETURNS The price of jet fuel is expected to remain high for as long as...

According to a government report released on Sunday, the Federal 'Aviation Administration' needs additional funding from Congress in order to complete phase one of a $10.6-billion air traffic control plan. They also underestimated the total cost of operating the new system. The Government Accountability Office stated that the FAA did not have a full assessment of the costs associated with operating the new system, nor had it set out a schedule to complete the reforms. The GAO report stated that "the FAA buys delivery speed by risking cost uncertainty and disruptions." It added, "these risks increase FAA's likelihood of repeating...

A government report said Monday that the Federal 'Aviation Administration' needs more funding from Congress to complete the first phase of its $10.6 billion air traffic control reform plan. They also underestimated the costs associated with operating the system. The Government Accountability Office (GAO)?said that the FAA hadn't fully assessed the?costs of operating the system? or?set up a detailed timeline for completing reforms? The GAO report stated that "these risks increase FAA's likelihood of repeating the history of cost overruns and delays." Congress approved $9 billion in the first phase of ATC reforms, which is expected to cost $10 billion....

State media reported that China would impose a drone ban and a no-fly area over the capital, months after a small plane crashed into Beijing’s tallest building. This rare incident raised questions about security gaps in one of the most tightly controlled airspaces. Beijing Daily, the state-run newspaper, announced on Sunday that China would designate a "no-fly" zone in and around the capital to go into effect on September 20. The report stated that regular airline flights and emergency rescue missions would not be affected. It was not immediately clear what the exact scope, limits of altitude and boundaries were....

AirBaltic has been in "talks" with the labour unions, to come to an agreement about an "adjustment" of the workforce. Erno Hilden, the Chief Executive Officer at AirBaltic told reporters on Monday that the Latvian airline had announced its voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Hilden stated that "we are currently conducting consultations with labour unions." He added that, with plans to reduce the capacity of the company, "a change in the workforce is a 'natural conclusion. When all of that has been concluded, it will be time to "really" come up with some numbers. AirBaltic filed for protection under 'Chapter 11'...

Abu Dhabi's Etihad Airlines said Monday that its passenger capacity was above the year-earlier levels as Gulf carriers rebounded from disruption caused by Iran war. Its chief executive also predicted strong demand heading into winter travel season. In an interview, CEO Antonoaldo Neves stated that "we are back on track". He noted that the Available Seat 'Kilometres' - industry standard for measuring passenger carrying capacity - were 15 % to 17% higher today than they were a year ago. He said that the flights were "full, full and full". The load factor (which measures how well an air carrier fills...

AirBaltic, a Latvian airline, said it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Monday in the U.S. to?cut its mounting debts and survive a crisis affecting the entire sector brought about by?the Iran War. AirBaltic was the second airline to be affected by the war, after Spirit Airlines collapsed in May. Here are some facts about the Latvian flag airline and its financial problems. Who owns AIRBALTIC? Lufthansa, a German airline, holds 10% of airBaltic. AirBaltic, a joint-venture between the Latvian government and Scandinavian Airlines SAS, was founded in Riga, Latvia, in August 1995, following the collapse of Latvia's previous flag...