UAE Suspended Five Foreign Airlines Flight Operation as Violating Air Safety and Security Instruction

The civil aviation authorities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) suspended the operations of five foreign airlines within the Gulf region after they reportedly violated air safety and security instructions.

The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) Thursday informed authorities about its decision regarding suspension of air operation of the five foreign airlines in the UAE for non-compliance with the applicable safety and security standards.

The five airlines were, however, not named.

One of them was suspended because it went through maintenance at a UAE airport without obtaining a license from the GCAA, another for safety and security reasons, and a third was suspended for violating air instructions applicable in the UAE.

‘The GCAA seeks to ensure that all aircraft operating in the UAE comply with the highest international safety and security standards,’ said Saif Mohammad Al Suwaidi, GCAA director general.

‘Being the authority in charge of the civil aviation sector in the UAE, the GCAA will not hesitate to take any action against any aircraft and against any local or international air operator in the event of any violation of the applicable instructions in the UAE or non-compliance with any security and safety standards,’ he said.

Domestic Air Cargo Traffic Rises 25 Percent in 2009-10

Domestic air cargo traffic registered a 25-per cent increase in 2009-10 to 691 metric tonnes (mt) over the previous year’s 552 mt, marginally exceeding the government target of 686 mt for the country’s all airports, according to information provided by Praful Patel, minister for Civil Aviation, in Lok Sabha yesterday.

Although international cargo movement rose by over 10 per cent to 1270 mt for the year compared to 2008-09, it fell short of the target of 1402 mt by around 9 per cent, primarily on account of the global economic slow down.

Airports Authority of India (AAI) has forecasted around 10-per cent annual growth in international cargo traffic for the next five years from 2010-11 to 2014-15. For the domestic cargo, the anticipated growth is around 15 per cent in the first two years and 12 per cent in the subsequent years.

The statement said that several steps are being taken to improve cargo handling facilities at the country’s various airports.

In Kolkata, the phase 1 of new integrated cargo terminal was made operational in 2008 increasing the total cargo usage area to 21,906 sq.m with an annual capacity of 1.25 lakh mt.

In Chennai, phase 3 and 4 of the cargo terminal under construction will enhance the handling capacity from the present 3.5 lakh mt to 5.15 lakh mt, covering an area of 54,620 sq.m.

Major Air Crashes on Chinese Record since 1980

The crash of a passenger aircraft in northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province Tuesday ended an unbroken record of civil air safety stretching back almost six years.

The following are major air crashes on the Chinese mainland since 1980:

August 24, 2010: A ERJ-190 jet manufactured by Brazilian aerospace conglomerate Embraer crashes near the runway of Lindu airport, Yichun, Heilongjiang Province at 9:36 p.m., killing 42 people and injuring 54.

November 21, 2004: A Bombardier CRJ200 passenger jet crashes in Baotou City, northern Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, killing all 53 on board and two on the ground.

May 7, 2002: A McDonnell Douglas MD-82 operated by China Northern Airlines crashes off the coast of the northeastern Dalian City, killing all 112 aboard.

June 22, 2000: A Yun-7 passenger aircraft crashes on the outskirts of the central Wuhan City, killing 44 on board and seven on a ship.

February 24, 1999: All 61 people on board are killed when a China Southwest Airlines Tupolev-154-2622 jet crashes en route from Chengdu, capital of the southwestern Sichuan Province, to Wenzhou City, Zhejiang Province.

May 8, 1997: A China Southern Airlines Boeing 737-300 crashes on landing at an airport in the southern Shenzhen City, killing 35 of the 74 passegers and crew.

June 6, 1994: A China Northwest Airlines Tupolev-154 crashes in Mingdu Township in northwest China’s Shaanxi Province, killing all 160 people on board.

July 23, 1993: A China Northwest Airlines BAe146 crashes into a pond while taking off from an airport in northwestern Yinchuan City, killing 55 people.

November 24, 1992: A total of 141 people are killed when a Boeing 737 passenger aircraft operated by China Southern Airlines crashes in mountains in Yangshuo County in southern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

July 31, 1992: A China General Airlines passenger aircraft crashes off the runway when taking off in Nanjing, killing 107 people and injuring 19.

October 2, 1990: A hijacked Boeing 737 plane belonging to Xiamen Airlines collides with a China Southern Airlines B757 passenger jet at Baiyun Airport in the southern Guangzhou City, killing 82 on the Boeing 737 and 46 on the Boeing 757.

August 15, 1989: A China Eastern Airlines An-24 on a flight from Shanghai to Nanchang crashes during taking-off because of engine failure, killing 34 people.

January 18, 1988: A total of 108 people on board are killed when an IL-14P aircraft operated by China Southwest Airlines crashes near an airport in the southwestern Chongqing city.

January 18, 1985: A CAAC An-24 on a flight from Nanjing to Jinan crashes in Jinan, capital of the eastern Shandong Province, killing 38 people.

December 24, 1982: An IL-18B aircraft on a flight from Changsha to Guangzhou crashes at Baiyun Airport in Guangzhou, killing 25 passengers.

April 26, 1982: A CAAC Trident2E passenger aircraft en route from Guangzhou to Guilin in Guangxi crashes in Gongcheng County, Guangxi, killing all 112 people on board.

Civil Aviation Board Reported Regular Passenger Flights Increase by 7 percent

President of Civil Aviation Board (JAC) reported regular passenger and charter flights in the first quarter increased 4.8% or about 126,042, in addition there are 2240 air operations from the same period in 2009.

Overall increase in regular passenger flights in the first quarter reached 473,000 or an increase to reach 7%.

The first new airline has been allowed to operate in the country, including the VRG, Linhas Aereas, SA with permission to fly from Brazil to Punta Cana and Santo Domingo; and British Airways, PLC, with flights from London to Punta Cana (east).

Jet Blue will also expand its service to include the routes New York-Punta Cana and Boston-Punta Cana.
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Workers British Airways Airline Worldwide Will Support Cabin Crew Strike at British Airways

Unions representing airline workers around the world have plans in place to “take sympathetic action,” should cabin crew members go on strike at British Airways PLC, the International Transport Worker’s Federation said Thursday.

Unite, the cabin crew union, said Thursday it met with British Airways Chief Executive Willie Walsh in the hope of averting a walkout. The ITF said in a statement that all of its members remain “utterly committed to a hoped-for negotiated settlement” between the British Airlines carrier and its flight attendants’ union.

But aviation trade unions at British Airways destinations in the U.S., Australia, Germany, Spain, Italy, France, Norway, India, the Netherlands, Canada, Jordan and Argentina all have publicly declared that they are poised to take sympathy action on four strike days, set to begin Saturday.
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Indian Airlines Cancel Aug 18 Domestic Flight Stoppage

India’s private airlines have called off plans to halt domestic travel for one day on Aug. 18 because of fears of a backlash and after the government agreed to talks about high taxes and airport fees, an industry group said.
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Crisis for Airlines as Passenger Figures Fall by 500,000

Scotland’s main airports have lost almost 500,000 passengers in just 10 months, signalling a reversal in the era of expanding air travel and highlighting a major dent in the Scottish economy.
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Low-cost Airlines May Get More Peak-time Slots in Metros

Low-cost carriers may soon pull a large number of corporate customers away from the full-service carriers. Read more