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Tesla receives a permit in Arizona to operate as a transport network company
A state regulator announced on Tuesday that Tesla had received a permit for it to operate in Arizona as a transportation company. This is a major step in expanding its robotaxi service. Tesla will be able to operate a ride-hailing business similar to Uber and charge its passengers with the TNC permit, but it won't be able drive driverless cars. Tesla received a state permit in September for testing its autonomous vehicles using a safety driver. The process was a self certification. The company also applied for the right to conduct tests without a driver. The robotaxi industry is on the rebound after years of broken promises, company closures and tight regulations. Tesla launched its robotaxi service this year in Austin, Texas. The vehicle features a safety monitor on the front passenger's seat. Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, said that the company would expand its robotaxi service to include about half of the U.S. by the end this year. Tesla operates a chauffeur service in San Francisco Bay operated by humans and has a Nevada permit to test its automated vehicles on public roads. The Arizona Department of Transportation announced that Tesla met all the requirements for the Arizona TNC permit and received it on November 17. (Reporting from Akash Sriram and Abhirup in Bengaluru; Editing by Alan Barona, Bill Berkrot and Bill Berkrot).
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Mexico's ASUR purchases Motiva's Latin American Airports in a $2.2 billion deal
Motiva announced on Tuesday that Mexico's Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste signed a deal to purchase the Brazilian infrastructure operator Motiva's airport portfolio for $11.5 billion (about $2.16 billion), which includes net debt. ASUR will pay ASUR 5 billion reais to acquire Motiva's airport stake, with the remainder being paid through net debt. This is according to a filing by Motiva. The sale is still subject to antitrust approvals. It includes Motiva's stakes at 17 Brazilian airports as well as international hubs located in the capital of Ecuador, Quito, Costa Rica, and Curacao. Motiva says that these airports serve about 45 million passengers a year. Reports earlier this month citing two different sources indicated that ASUR was the top bidder for Motiva's Airport Portfolio. Motiva expects to reduce its net debt leverage from 3.5 to less than 3 after the deal. ($1 = 5,3218 reais). (Reporting and editing by Luciana Magnhaes, Andre Romani)
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Spirit Airlines unions accept pay cuts for pilots and flight attendants
The unions that represent Spirit Airlines flight attendants and pilots announced on Tuesday they had reached an agreement for the company to reduce pay and benefits as it tries its best to cut costs in the ongoing Chapter 11 restructuring. The amended collective bargaining agreements, which are subject to member and court approval, include snapbacks timed for when the ultra-low-cost-carrier expects to be profitable again. Spirit filed for bankruptcy in August for the second consecutive year. It said that it expected to continue reporting losses until 2027. Air Line Pilots Association has said that it has accepted Spirit's plan to reduce the hourly wage by 8%, and to cut its retirement account contribution by half (from 16% to 8%). The revised collective bargaining agreement will run from 2026 to 2027. The airline agreed that it would restore pilots' salaries in stages, starting August 2028. A 4% increase will be given in August 2028 and another 4% in January 2029. By July 2029, retirement contributions will be back to 16%. Spirit declined to comment on a request. In a memo, the flight attendants' union recommended that its members vote for the agreement. The agreement would take effect at the start of 2026. The union that represents Spirit Airlines flight attendants says the contract changes will protect the base pay and health benefits. The Association of Flight Attendants and CWA have agreed to reduce the incentive overtime pay to one time from 1.5 times. They also eliminated ground holding pay. In July 2027 the overtime pay threshold will increase to 95 credit hours, up from 85. Spirit Airlines has agreed to return to the original terms of the labor agreement for flight attendants once the company achieves an adjusted pre-tax profit margin of 7.5% or more in three consecutive quarterly periods. Reporting by Doyinsola Oladipo in New York, Editing by Alistair Bell
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US airline group asks Congress to pay controllers for future shutdowns
The head of the trade group that represents major U.S. Airlines will call for an end to aviation disruptions caused by government shutdowns, and ensure air traffic controllers are paid. Airlines for America will present a U.S. government report on behalf of American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines. Senate Commerce Aviation Subcommittee said that the 43-day shutdown of the government and flight restrictions imposed by government disrupted six million passengers and 50,000 planes because of an increase in air traffic controller absenteeism. This shutdown has shown the severe safety, human and financial consequences of subjecting aviation to such stress and chaos. According to Chris Sununu's written testimony, A4A CEO Chris Sununu is going to say that it must never happen again. Nick Daniels, President of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, also supported legislation that would ensure controllers are paid even during shutdowns. Daniels testifies that "we cannot continue to ask the air traffic controllers, their families and Congress to carry the burden of policy differences in Congress." In response to aviation safety concerns, the FAA imposed unprecedented flight restrictions at 40 major U.S. Airports on November 7. These restrictions were lifted on Monday. These restrictions resulted in 7,100 cancellations of flights and affected 2.3 million passengers. The FAA reduced the requirement for domestic flight cuts from 6% down to 3% late Friday. Even after the reduction, the major U.S. carriers did not meet the required flight cut requirements at U.S. Airports. Cirium, a firm that analyzes aviation data, says carriers cancelled just 0.25 percent of flights on Sunday at these 40 airports. This is less than the normal cancellation rate. The FAA may seek an up to $75,000 fine for each flight that exceeds the limits mandated. About 3,500 controllers are not enough to meet the FAA's target staffing levels. Before the shutdown, many controllers had worked mandatory overtime. Last year, 40% of FAA sites operated six days per week at least one time per month. (Reporting and editing by David Shepardson)
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California refinery closings spark race for pipeline to West Coast
Energy companies are racing to build a major pipeline that will carry fuel to the U.S. West Coast. This could be a lucrative endeavor, as the closure of two Californian refineries is expected to drive up gasoline prices on this isolated market. West Coast motorists have been paying some of the highest fuel prices in the nation due to the limited regional production and the lack of connectivity to the Gulf Coast refinery hub. According to the Energy Information Administration, there are no pipelines that deliver fuel from the Gulf Coast to California and few that do so from across the Rocky Mountains. Phillips 66 began to wind down its Los Angeles refinery in September, and Valero Energy plans to shut their Benicia refinery in April. This will cause more price shocks but also present an opportunity for pipeline operators. Three groups have put forward different ideas to fill the void created by the closures, which is approximately 280,000 barrels per day. Three groups have put forward different proposals to fill the void created by the closures. These include refiner HF Sinclair and ONEOK's pipeline unit, as well as a partnership between Phillips 66, a refiner, and midstream-focused Kinder Morgan. The first company to make a final decision on investment could be the only one who can secure a multi-billion dollar windfall, because multiple pipelines along the West Coast will eat away at each other's margins. These margins are already restricted due to California being a waterborne importer. Skip York, Turner, Mason & Co.'s chief energy strategist, said that when multiple pipeline projects are proposed at the same moment, only one is usually completed. POLITICAL FOCUS OPENS RARE WINDOWS The planned refinery closings have placed intense pressure on California Governor Gavin Newsom, to stop fuel price increases. This has created a rare opportunity for approval of fossil fuel projects in a state which has long been critical of "Big Oil". Alec Gravelle, an East Daley analyst, said that given the reaction to refinery closings it is hard to imagine any resistance to new projects. York explained that the majority of financing for pipeline construction comes from capacity commitments. Securing at least 70% could determine which project moves forward. Scotiabank analyst Paul Cheng says that Western Gateway – the Phillips 66 Kinder Morgan project – and HF Sinclair’s proposal have an advantage because the refiners could ensure some of the supply. No one has yet made any commitments to capacity. Phillips 66 refused to comment on competing West Coast Pipeline proposals. Other proponents didn't immediately respond to comments. Debnil Chowdhury is the head of Americas & European Refining for S&P Global Commodity Insights. She said that proposals reusing existing line may also be more likely to move forward than new builds, because regulatory approval could be easier. Western Gateway and HF Sinclair plan parts that use existing lines. RIVAL REFINERS BET WATERBORNE FUELS While a new pipe could provide some stability for regional gasoline prices in the future, refinery executives have questioned if any will be built. They cited California's ability to access waterborne fuels. "In terms the pipelines which are rumored will come into the area, that is a big if", said Rick Hessling. He added that the timing and the transportation costs of waterborne barrels were more important than pipelines. Gary Simmons, Valero Energy's Chief Operating Officer, said in a call with investors last month that the company is unlikely to sign a long-term agreement for shipping services. Simmons, speaking of price arbitrage opportunities, said: "We prefer the waterborne option as it allows us to get barrels anywhere in the globe and to take advantage of the international arbs which can be available."
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Spain's eDreams lowers its earnings guidance due to a slowdown in prime subscriber growth
The Spanish travel booking company eDreams Odigeo cut its earnings forecasts for 2026-2027 on Tuesday due to a slower growth of its prime member base. The Barcelona-based firm revised its guidance and now expects earnings before interest taxes, depreciation, and amortization to reach 155 millions euros ($179million) for the fiscal period ending March 31, 2026 and 115 million euro in 2027. This was down from an earlier estimate of 180 million euros in 2026. The company attributed its lower outlook to the reduced revenue from its prime segment after adopting a monthly and quarterly payment option instead of an annual model. Despite a slowdown in the growth of its Prime membership, eDreams has reported an 18% increase in subscribers year-on-year, reaching 7,7 million users. This is a slowdown from the 20% growth in the prior quarter. Investor confidence was affected by the slowdown of its main revenue driver last quarter Shares of the company fell by 16%. The net profit grew to 17.9 millions euros ($20.7million) from 2.5 million euro a year ago. While subscriptions in other industries such as music and television are quite common, eDreams was the first to introduce a membership-based model that allows customers to book discounted airline tickets and hotels through their website. The subscription model, which was launched in 2017, has been a major driver of profitability for the group and an important factor in its recovery after the ravages the pandemic caused to the tourism industry. The company plans to invest in new markets to increase its Prime membership growth. (1 dollar = 0.8639 euro) (Reporting and editing by Matt Scuffham in Gdansk)
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Mota-Engil's Mota-Engil profits jump 20% and order book hits record
Mota-Engil is Portugal's largest building company. Its net profit for the nine-month period rose by 20%. This was due to growth at its African unit. The global order backlog also reached a new record. The builder that operates in over 20 countries across Africa, Europe, and Latin America posted a net income of 90 million euro ($104 million) for the period. This is up from 77 millions euros last year. The African unit's revenue rose 57%, to 1.6 billion Euros, despite a 1.4% decline in sales. This was "driven by the doubled activity" of industrial engineering work, which included the mining sector. After two years of growth, sales in Latin America dropped by 29% in a "transitional period", to 1.6 billion euro. Sales in Europe fell by 27%, to 334 millions euros following the sale of their Polish operations in September. The EBITDA margin increased to 17%, from 15%, a year earlier. EBITDA for the African unit increased by 62%, to 405 millions euros. The margin was 25%. Mota-Engil is owned by the Mota Family at 40% and China Communications Construction Company at 32,41%. The order backlog has reached a new record of 15,7 billion euros. This was up from 14,7 billion euros in June. The backlog does not include contracts signed in Brazil or Mexico after September. This "guarantees visibility over several years, and supports strong, profitable growth for the future."
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Amtrak, the US passenger rail company, sets a record for ridership and cuts losses
Amtrak, the U.S. passenger rail company, said Tuesday that it had set records for revenue and ridership in a single year. It also cut its losses by 15 percent to $598 millions and is aiming for profitability by 2028. Amtrak is a major effort in rehabilitating the infrastructure of the Northeast corridor between Boston, Massachusetts and Washington. It is expanding service throughout the United States by purchasing new Acela trains with higher speeds and replacing regional trains from next year. Amtrak reported that in the twelve months ending September 30, it had 34,5 million trips made by customers, an increase of 5.1%. Operating revenue was 9.1% higher, at $3.9 billion. In March, the White House forced Amtrak's CEO Stephen Gardner to resign after President Donald Trump requested changes. CAPACITY - MORE CAPACITY Amtrak hasn't named a new chief executive officer, but Amtrak president Roger Harris runs the operations. Harris stated in an interview that "the critical thing for us right now is to get capacity." He added that the new Acela train will be 27% larger and new regional trains will be coming next year. "I think better product and more capacity." Harris stated that more people are considering Amtrak because of the congestion on highways, and problems with air travel, such as volume or technical issues. In October, the White House halted reimbursements to the $17.2 billion Hudson River Tunnel project. The project received over $11 billion of federal grants. It is considered crucial for improving service between New York City and New Jersey. Amtrak received about $2.4 billion per year in government funding over the past few years. This is on top of the $22 billion that was approved for major projects in 2021, spread out over five years. Harris stated that Amtrak was prepared to "sustain the projects" during the recent government shutdown. He did not anticipate any delays. Harris did not know if Amtrak was going to name a new chief executive officer. Harris stated that Amtrak has been letting him run the company since the last eight-month period. Sean Duffy, the U.S. Transportation secretary, praised railroad growth. USDOT announced in September that it had taken back control of Washington Union Station, which is one of the nation's largest rail hubs. Duffy stated that "Faster trains and more affordable service are opening a new era in American rail." (Reporting and Editing by Bill Berkrot.)
What can airports to do prevent drone incursions?
In recent weeks, drones have disrupted the airspace in Europe. This has caused airport closures and flight cancellations. As tensions between the West and Russia have increased over its conflict in Ukraine, finger-pointing has occurred. However, Moscow denies any involvement while investigators continue to gather evidence. Governments and regulators face pressure from the public to find solutions.
Why are Drones a growing problem at airports?
Monitoring service Enigma has detected at least 18 drones in Denmark, Sweden Norway and Germany since September 16. Many, but not all, were in close proximity to airports.
Since 2005, drone incursions in Britain have affected airports such as Gatwick and Heathrow. However, this year there has been an increase in the number of incidents. The data shows persistent activity for several weeks and possibly coordinated incursions at specific dates, said an Enigma spokesperson without providing any further details.
Airport drone spottings have been particularly disruptive. Airport closures are costly and affect the entire aviation system, causing delays across Europe.
Ourania Georgoutsakou said that the increasing number of incidents would "accelerate" the implementation of protocols in order to minimize disruptions within an "overstretched, fragmented European Airspace". Protocols include frequency checking, monitoring and jamming.
Both civilians and investigators have been trying to determine what types of drones were flying, their capabilities and who was controlling them. Chief executive of Dyami Eric Schouten, a security advisory firm, said that the chaos caused by recent incidents could be an indication of hybrid warfare tactics.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the EU Commission, said that recent drone incidents and other violations of airspace show Europe is now facing hybrid warfare. It must respond to this with measures beyond traditional defense. She stated that Russia's goal is to "sow a division" in Europe.
What technology do airports have to fight back?
On the market are a variety of technologies, such as microwaves, lasers, and missiles. The capabilities range from drone detection to jamming frequencies used by drones and shooting down.
What is the challenge? The challenge?
The European Aviation Safety Agency will issue guidance in 2021 on how to deal with drone disruptions. Some national governments have also enacted regulations that limit drone flights.
Airports purchased counter-drone devices from companies such as Dedrone Thales and DJI Aeroscope. However, the majority of these tools only offer detection technology. Germany's federal government is proposing a law that would allow police to shoot drones down if necessary after drone sightings disrupted Munich Airport earlier this month. However, introducing lasers or missiles to shoot down drones within civilian airspace has its own set of safety concerns. These include the potential for damage to civilian aircraft as well as wider infrastructure.
You must be certain that the object is hostile. Then you can intervene. "There are many ifs and buts," explained Dutch drone expert Wiebe De Jager. He warned that most drone alarms are false alarms.
Experts say that any major action would require a clearer policy from the government. For now, airports will mainly stick with detection tools.
WHAT'S NEXT?
Experts predict that drone incursions will increase in frequency across Europe.
Airports aren't the only places where drones could cause disruption. Drones can also target prisons, seaports and nuclear facilities.
Experts said that although the disruptions highlighted the vulnerabilities, the recent incursions will bring greater clarity and action by authorities. They will also force them to coordinate countermeasures across sectors.
Stijn Willekens is the Chief Executive of Active Drone Security Solutions. "I hope that it does really shake things up," he said. (Reporting and editing by Joe Brock, Mark Heinrich, Ilona wissenbach, Toby Sterling; reporting by Joanna Plucinska).
(source: Reuters)