Latest News
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American Airlines resumes flights to Israel after ceasefire in Gaza
American Airlines announced on Sunday that it will resume flights to Israel by March. The U.S. carrier had halted its New York JFK-Tel Aviv route after Hamas' attack of October 7, 2023, which triggered the war in Gaza for two years. American announced that it would resume its JFK flights on March 28, 2019. Delta and United, two of the biggest airlines in the United States, have resumed flights from Israel. Many foreign airlines ceased flights to Tel Aviv on October 7, and have stayed away from Tel Aviv for long periods of time in the last two years because of intermittent missile attacks by Iran and Yemen. The demand for international flights was far greater than the supply. As a result, airfares increased. Following a ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States between Israel and Hamas militants in Palestine, many foreign carriers have resumed flights to Tel Aviv. British Airways, SAS Iberia, and Swiss will resume flights in the coming week. American will be the fifth airline to fly to Israel non-stop from the United States. El Al, Arkia and Delta are the others. United is also expected to add daily flights to Tel Aviv later from Washington (November 2nd) and Chicago (November 1st). According to Israel Airports Authority, the number of passengers at Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv increased by 25% during the first nine-month period of 2025. The airport now has 13.6 million passengers. El Al's share of the market dropped from 44% to 32.5% a year ago. (Reporting and editing by David Holmes; Steven Scheer)
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Officials say that two workers were killed by a pipeline explosion at the Zubair oilfield in Iraq.
Officials from the Zubair oilfield in Iraq said that at least two workers died in an explosion of a pipeline in the oilfield on Sunday. They said there was no impact on the oil flow, as throughput is currently at 400,000 barges per day. Officials said that the fire, which caused five serious injuries, started when a group was welding near the pipeline. Firefighters worked to put out the fire that broke out in a section on the pipeline transporting crude oil from Zubair to storage tanks nearby. Officials said that some of the injured workers had severe burns, and are still in critical condition. This raises concerns about the possibility of more deaths. One official said that the fire had not affected production, but needed to be put out quickly to prevent a partial shut down of certain loading operations. (Reporting from Aref Mohammed in Basra, and Ahmed Rasheed at Baghdad. Editing by Tom Hogue.)
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Lithuania closes Vilnius Airport again due to balloons in the airspace
The National Crisis Management Centre of Lithuania reported that the Vilnius airport in Lithuania was closed Saturday as a result of weather balloons that entered its airspace from Belarus. This is the fourth disruption to the airport this month. The NCMC reported that traffic at the airport had been suspended until 2 am (2330 GMT). In recent weeks, drone sightings have caused chaos at European airports including Copenhagen, Munich, and the Baltic Region. Lithuania said that smugglers who transport contraband cigarettes send balloons, but also blamed Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko - a close friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin - for not stopping this practice. Inga Ruginiene, the Lithuanian prime minister, said on Friday that the National Security Commission would meet next week to evaluate the situation. (Reporting and editing by Terje Solsvik, Andrius Sytas)
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Aeromexico asks US Court to block Trump Order forcing Delta joint venture to end
Aeromexico requested the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals to stop a Trump Administration order that forced it to dissolve a joint venture between Delta Air Lines and Aeromexico by January 1, 2018. The joint venture allows the carriers to coordinate scheduling, pricing, and capacity decisions on U.S. to Mexico flights. Aeromexico claimed that even if the court upheld this arrangement, it would still be faced with substantial costs it couldn't recover. The U.S. Department of Transportation, in September, ordered the termination of the joint venture, which had been operating for nearly nine years, as part of a series of actions targeting Mexican aviation. USDOT didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. Aeromexico stated that the order required it to "divert Existing and hire new employees, establish a brand presence in the U.S. and separate its pricing and sales platforms for U.S. from Delta's." The Mexican airline added that the airlines would suffer "concrete and calculable damage" from an overhaul of their brand and operation. USDOT announced in August that the joint venture must end due to "ongoing anticompetitive impacts on U.S. Mexico City markets which provide unfair advantages to Delta and Aeromexico." About 60% of passengers flying from Mexico City Airport into the U.S. are carried by these carriers. The airport is the 4th largest international gateway into and out of the United States. Aeromexico has a 20% share of the U.S. - Mexico market with Delta, while American Airlines holds 21%. USDOT has stated that the likely issues from this venture are higher fares on some markets, reduced capacities and difficulties for U.S. carriers because of government intervention. Delta claims that up to $850 million in consumer benefits per year could disappear, and two dozen routes may be cancelled. Smaller aircraft will replace the existing planes. (Reporting and editing by Richard Chang; Reporting by David Shepardson)
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Sources say that Sable will need to raise $1.7 billion to advance the Santa Ynez Project.
Two sources with knowledge of the matter said that Sable Offshore will need $1.7 billion to implement a floating-storage strategy as an alternative for marketing crude oil from the Santa Ynez Field off California via pipeline. Sable Offshore told investors last month that it would pursue an offshore storage strategy and treat vessels to market oil from the Santa Ynez Project, but it continued to fight California regulators who challenged its plan to restart an onshore pipeline to move crude from the Santa Ynez Project to regional refineries. It was not previously known what the estimated cost would be to pursue this strategy. Sable's estimate includes the refinancing a $900m loan from Exxon Mobil, which was used to purchase the project after the oil giant shut it down in 2015 due to an oil spill. Sources said that approximately $450 million would be needed to purchase or convert the offshore storage vessel, as well as any modifications. Another $300 million would cover operational costs including general and administrative expenses. Sources said that the company was in discussions with the U.S. Government for funding for the project. This could include a federal guarantee of loan, they added. Sources requested anonymity because the details of the negotiations and estimated funding requirements with the U.S. Government are not public. Sable refused to comment on financing estimates or discussions with the federal government. The White House didn't immediately respond to our request for comment. A MONTH-LONG PIPELINE DISSENSION Sable is locked in a dispute with California that has lasted for months over the restarting of the Santa Ynez Project, which was shut down nearly a decade ago after the spillage in 2015. Sable resumed production on one of the platforms back in May. A California judge tentatively ruled last week against Sable Offshore’s request to lift a California Coastal Commission cease and desist on repairs made to its onshore pipeline system called Las Flores. Sable said at the time that the decision did not impact its plans to resume transportation of petroleum through Las Flores, or production. However, it added that it would appeal the decision. Sable's plans for reopening the pipeline have been dealt a further blow this week after the California Office of State Fire Marshal stated that Sable had not met all the requirements to restart the pipe. In a letter dated Oct. 22, the OSFM informed Sable that it had not completed the repairs to the pipeline as required by the waivers it received last year. Sable's response to OSFM Thursday said that the conclusions of the agency are incorrect and in conflict with the numerous discussions between the two parties. "Sable strongly opposes the allegations. They are inconsistent with both the plain language in the waivers as well as numerous previous discussions with OSFM expert that confirm Sable's full compliance with waivers. Sable will supplement this initial reply and is looking forward to quickly resolving the misunderstanding with OSFM", it stated on Thursday. (Reporting and editing by Anna Driver in New York, Shariq Khan from New York)
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Reclining seats are another airline convenience that comes with a price.
The latest airline perk is reclining seats, but it comes at a price. Both passengers and staff are annoyed by this. WestJet, based in Calgary, began flying its first newly configured 43 planes on Wednesday. Standard economy seats are now fixed. The option to recline seats is still available but at a higher price. This has sparked a backlash among some passengers and pilots who claim that the change may affect their health and safety. Bernie Lewall is the chair of a WestJet local union. He wants to ensure that pilots are not forced to fly in seats with non-reclining backrests to their work locations, also known as deadheading. Lewall, the chair of WestJet ALPA Master Executive Council said: "If they believe that there is a market in this area I am fine with it." What I am not okay with is being forced into a deadheading seat where it may lead to fatigue or health issues. He said that pilots were considering a grievance. WestJet has said that any deadhead travel by pilots will be managed according to their collective agreement. Although European low-cost airlines don't usually offer reclining chairs, this is a new development for North Americans who view it as an additional charge to previously free benefits like carry-on luggage and seat selection. Gurneet, a 28-year-old student from Greater Toronto said: "I believe there must be an alternative that makes flights more affordable without sacrificing comfort." Melissa Fisher, of Portland, Oregon said that travelers have limited power to fight back, as low-cost airlines increasingly charge for extras in order to boost their finances. What are you going do? What if you don't want to fly? "Pay more?" She said. The reclining economy seats are not for everyone. They often cause disputes in the air. WestJet reported that half of the passengers who tried the new seats preferred a fixed recline in order to prevent others from encroaching upon their personal space. The airline will complete the remaining 42 aircraft early next year. They will represent less than one-third of its narrowbody fleet. "Unfortunately there is no legal right to reclined seats," said Dr. Gabor Lukacs of Air Passenger Rights, a nonprofit organization. (Reporting by Allison Lampert, Montreal; Doyinsola Oladipo, New York; Editing and production by Joe Brock and Rosalba Brien).
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Transport ministry: Lithuania closes airports because of balloons from Belarus
The Lithuanian Transport Ministry said that the Vilnius and Kaunas Airports in Lithuania were closed Friday night because of meteorological weather balloons coming from Belarus. This is the third disruption to the airports this month. In recent weeks, drone sightings have caused chaos at European airports including Copenhagen, Munich, and the Baltic region. In a press release, the Lithuanian transport ministry stated that all traffic was suspended at both airports until 2200 local (or 1900 GMT). National Crisis Management Centre said that "tens" of balloons were noted on radar. Authorities have confirmed that the Vilnius Airport was closed on Tuesday, October 5 and 5, after smugglers balloons carrying contraband cigarettes from Belarus entered the airspace of the capital city. Inga Ruginiene, the Lithuanian prime minister, said that Wednesday The Baltic country will close its border to Belarus if balloon smugglers enter again from Belarus. (Reporting and writing by Andrius Sytas; editing by Terje Solsvik).
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US to expect more flight delays, as controllers will soon miss their paychecks
Sean Duffy, the U.S. Transportation secretary, said on Friday that he expected more flights to get delayed. Air traffic controllers will miss their first pay as a government shutdown enters its second week. The government shutdown will force 13,000 air traffic control officers and 50,000 Transportation Security Administration agents to work without pay. The first full pay for controllers is not due until Tuesday. Duffy told Fox News' America Reports that "you'll see more disruption as we approach Tuesday" and "after." Duffy told a press conference in Philadelphia Airport that Federal Aviation Administration’s air traffic control academy would run out of funds within weeks and that some students have already decided to drop out. Airlines prepare for more disruptions. Nick Daniel, President of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, said during a press conference that controllers face immense stress. Some are even taking on second jobs to pay for their bills. Daniels stated that the shutdown is "an unnecessary distraction" and makes it impossible for employees to focus on their jobs. This, in turn, makes the system less safe. "We didn't start a shutdown. Our elected officials end the shutdown, not us. "Our message is clear: End the shutdown now." The Transportation Department reported that about 6.6% of the flights were delayed on Thursday due to the absence of air traffic controllers. This is slightly higher than the 5% normal but still lower than the 53% experienced in the days prior during the shutdown. The FAA reported that staffing problems at the air traffic control caused delays in travel to New York, Washington DC, Newark, and Houston airports on Thursday. This is slightly higher than the normal 5%, but much lower than 53% of flights delayed during previous days. During a 35-day government shutdown in 2019, the number of controllers and TSA agents absent increased as they missed their paychecks. This led to longer wait times at airport checkpoints. New York and Washington authorities were forced to slow down air traffic. Even before the shutdown, many air traffic controllers were working six-day weekends and mandatory overtime. (Reporting and editing by Leslie Adler, David Gregorio, and David Shepardson)
Iran brokering talk with send out innovative Russian rockets to Yemen's Houthis, sources say
Iran has actually brokered continuous secret talks between Russia and Yemen's Houthi rebels to transfer antiship rockets to the militant group, three Western and local sources stated, an advancement that highlights Tehran's deepening ties to Moscow.
7 sources said that Russia has yet to choose to transfer the Yakhont rockets-- also known as P-800 Oniks - which specialists said would enable the militant group to more accurately strike industrial vessels in the Red Sea and increase the risk to the U.S. and European warships safeguarding them.
The Wall Street Journal reported in July that Russia was considering sending out the rockets. Iran's function as an intermediary has not been formerly reported.
The Houthis have introduced repeated drone and missile strikes on ships in the vital Red Sea shipping channels since November to reveal assistance for Palestinians in the Gaza war with Israel.
They have actually sunk at least 2 vessels and took another, interfering with international maritime trade by forcing shipping companies to divert freights and, according to industry sources, increased insurance coverage costs for ships plying the Red Sea.
In response, the United States and Britain have actually struck Houthi positions but have actually stopped working to stop the group's attacks.
Two regional officials knowledgeable about the talks said that the Houthis and Russians fulfilled in Tehran at least twice this year and that the talk with provide lots of the rockets, which have actually a. series of about 300 km (186 miles), were ongoing with further. Tehran conferences expected in coming weeks.
Russia has actually formerly provided the Yakhont missile to. Iran-backed Hezbollah.
Among the sources stated the talks began under Iranian. President Ebrahim Raisi, who passed away in a helicopter crash in May.
Russia is negotiating with the Houthis for the transfer of. Yakhont supersonic anti-ship missiles, stated a Western. intelligence source. The Iranians are brokering the talks but. do not wish to have their signature over it.
Neither Iran's U.N. objective nor the Russian Defense Ministry. responded to ask for remark.
We have no knowledge of what you have mentioned, stated. Mohamed Abdel-Salam, the official representative for Yemen's Houthis.
A senior U.S. authorities decreased to name the specific systems. that could be transferred but confirmed that Russia has been. discussing supplying missiles to the Houthis, calling the. development really worrisome.
A U.S. Defense Department authorities stated any efforts to. bolster the Houthis' capabilities would weaken the shared. global interest in worldwide freedom of navigation and. stability in the Red Sea and broader Middle East.
CLOSER RUSSIA-IRAN LINKS
Russia and Iran have actually been supporting closer military ties. amid Russia's war in Ukraine. Tehran has actually allegedly moved. ballistic rockets to Moscow for usage against Ukraine, the United. States stated previously this month.
One inspiration for Moscow to arm the Houthis, 3 sources. said, is the possibility that Western states might decide to. allow Ukraine to use their weapons to strike further into. Russian territory.
The senior U.S. official stated the Russia-Houthi talks seem. to be connected to our posture in Ukraine and what we want. or not happy to do relating to Kyiv's ask for the lifting. of limitations on its use of long-range U.S.-supplied weapons. to strike targets deep inside Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin alerted in June that Moscow. could send out sophisticated long-range weapons - similar to those the. United States and its allies give Ukraine - to the West's. foes around the world.
The Yakhont is considered among the world's most advanced. anti-ship missiles, created to skim the sea's surface area to prevent. detection at more than two times the speed of noise, making it. challenging to obstruct.
' VIDEO GAME CHANGER' FOR REGIONAL SECURITY
Fabian Hinz, a professional on ballistic missiles with the. International Institute for Strategic Studies, stated that the. transfer of Yakhont rockets by Russia to the Houthis would be a. video game changer for regional security.
The P-800 is a much more capable system than the anti-ship. ballistic and cruise rockets the Houthis have utilized so far,. stated Hinz.
Not only could the Houthis fire them at U.S., British and. other warships that have actually been safeguarding business vessels in. the Red Sea from Houthi drone and missile attacks, however they can. be used as land-attack weapons that Saudi Arabia would see as a. risk, Hinz stated.
The senior U.S. authorities stated that a delegation of U.S. officials discussed the Russia-Houthi settlements with their. Saudi counterparts throughout a see to Saudi Arabia this summer season,. and that Washington has actually raised the issue with Moscow.
The Saudis have actually also conveyed their concerns straight to the. Russians, 3 sources told Reuters.
The Saudi federal government did not react to a request for. remark.
Hinz said Russia would need to help with the technical. aspects of a rocket delivery, including how to transfer and. make them functional without the United States identifying and. damaging the weapons. The Houthis would also need training on. the system.
The senior U.S. official cautioned of alarming effects if the. transfer happens.
The Saudis are alarmed. We are alarmed, and other regional. partners are alarmed, the official said. The Houthis are. already developing adequate damage in the Red Sea, and this would. allow them to do more..
(source: Reuters)