Aviation
EU alliance seeks to prepare aviation sector for clean aircraft roll out
A new EU-funded alliance aims to prepare the bloc for the introduction of zero-emission aircraft by upgrading Europe’s aviation infrastructure to meet the needs of electric and hydrogen-powered jets.
Strikes sweep Europe with Ryanair flights latest casualties
Ryanair cabin crew went on strike in Belgium, Spain and Portugal on Friday (24 June) in a dispute over pay and working conditions, the latest in a wave of walkouts by workers across different sectors in Europe.
Europe’s summer of discontent reveals aviation sector labour crisis
The summer when air travel was supposed to return to normal after a two-year pandemic vacuum is in danger of becoming the summer when the high-volume, low-cost air travel model broke down - at least in Europe's sprawling integrated market.
European official raises alarm about Russia flying unsafe airplanes
The European Union's top aviation safety regulator said on Tuesday (14 June) that he is "very worried" about the safety of Western-made aircraft continuing to fly in Russia without access to spare parts and proper maintenance.
MEPs aim to stick airlines with steeper carbon bill
Lawmakers in the European Parliament’s environment committee have voted to include all flights departing from Europe in the EU’s carbon market and to slash free allowances, a move that will force airlines to pay more to pollute.
Russia must return over 400 stolen airplanes, MEPs demand
The European Parliament passed on Thursday (5 May) a resolution on the impact of the Russian aggression on the transport and tourism sector, which calls on Russia to return over 400 airplanes leased from foreign companies it has stolen.
Climate impact of flying could be two thirds higher than thought
The EU's proposed green aviation law overlooks the true climate cost of flying, with the non-CO2 effects of air travel producing two to four times the impact of carbon emissions, a Greens MEP has said.
First clean jets will be ready for commercial flight by 2035, industry says
Carbon-emission free aircraft – either electric or hydrogen-powered – will be developed within six years, with the first jets commercially carrying passengers "from 2035 onwards," industry experts have forecast.
Australia, Netherlands start UN action against Russia over MH17
Australia and the Netherlands said on Monday (14 March) they had begun joint legal action against Russia at the United Nations' aviation agency over the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 eight years ago.
Israel in balancing act to keep its airlines flying to Russia
Israel was poised Tuesday (8 March) to extend financial guarantees for its airlines to fly into Russia, raising criticism in Kyiv as most Western airlines boycott Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. A source in Israel’s finance ministry who spoke...
Pandemic-weary airlines brace for fallout from Ukraine crisis
European airlines face higher fuel prices, longer journey times, and cancelled eastbound flights as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the latest crisis to afflict an industry still reeling from the global pandemic.
EU closes airspace to Russian aircraft
EU officials have imposed a bloc-wide ban on Russian aircraft entering EU airspace, adding to a massive package of financial, economic, and political sanctions.
Airline industry shifts attention to Russia risks after Ukraine airspace closed
The fallout to the global aviation industry from Russia's invasion of Ukraine is spreading beyond the airspace closings over the conflict zone as airlines, lessors and manufacturers face up to growing risks of doing business with Russia.
Airbus to test hydrogen jet engine in step towards zero emission aviation
Airbus has announced plans to test a hydrogen-powered jet engine by the middle of the decade, as the world’s largest plane manufacturer pushes to meet its 2035 deadline of building a zero emission aircraft.
Budget airlines push for end to carbon market exemption for long-haul carriers
Low-fares airlines have called on EU lawmakers to scrap exemptions which allow European long-haul carriers to avoid paying for carbon emissions on flights outside of Europe.
Advanced biofuels can replace used cooking oil in aviation, industry says
Pressure is growing on EU lawmakers to ensure agricultural and waste residues are legally required in the production of green jet fuel to prevent a reliance on imported used cooking oil.
Lawmaker proposes raising EU green jet fuel target to 100% by 2050
A draft European Parliament report calls for greater ambition in the EU’s proposed green jet fuel law, including a higher percentage of mandatory sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for planes refuelling in the bloc.
Commission denies existence of ghost flights amid carrier concerns
Europe's use it or lose it airport slot rule has not created issues for airlines during the COVID-19 pandemic, nor is there any evidence of carriers operating ghost flights because of the rule, a senior European Commission official said on Thursday.
Ryanair and Lufthansa clash over EU’s airport slot rules
Two of Europe's largest airlines have revived a spat over the environmental impact of Europe's take-off slot rules, with Ryanair accusing Germany's Lufthansa of exploiting climate concerns to stifle competition.
For third day, COVID-19 crimps Americans’ holiday travels
US airlines cancelled more than 1,300 flights on Sunday (26 December) as COVID-19 thinned out the number of available crews, while several cruise ships had to cancel stops after outbreaks on board, upending the plans of thousands of Christmas travelers.
More than 2.000 Christmas Eve flights cancelled amid Omicron surge
United Airlines and Delta Air Lines have cancelled hundreds of Christmas Eve flights, as the spreading COVID-19 Omicron variant takes a toll on its flight crews and other workers.
EU moves to halt air travel from southern Africa over COVID variant
The European Union aims to halt air travel from the southern African region amid rising concern about a new COVID-19 variant detected in South Africa, EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said on Friday (26 November).
EU’s strict green criteria for biofuels will hinder supply, MEPs warn
The EU’s "restrictive" approach to biofuels sustainability criteria will harm producers’ ability to meet increased demand for green fuels coming from the transport sector, says Henna Virkkunen, a Finnish lawmaker in the European Parliament.