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The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a safety alert to operators of certain Boeing 737 aircraft, warning them about a potential issue with the rudder system. The alert provides instructions for flight crews on how to respond to a jammed rudder and offers guidance on how to test for anomalies in the system. This comes after the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) criticized the FAA for not taking action sooner to address the issue. The NTSB has issued urgent recommendations to both the FAA and Boeing regarding the faulty parts supplied by Collins Aerospace. [Extracted from the article]

The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has issued a warning about a faulty component in some Boeing 737 aircraft that could cause the rudder control system to jam. The issue affects about 350 parts supplied by Collins Aerospace, a unit of RTX Corp., for certain 737 Max and 737 NG aircraft. The NTSB has made urgent safety recommendations to the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Boeing to address the problem. The FAA has stated that United Airlines is the only US airline that had the affected parts, but it is no longer using them. The flaw was discovered during an investigation of an incident in which rudder pedals on a United Airlines 737 Max 8 got stuck during landing. The NTSB has recommended that Boeing examine its procedures for pilots encountering similar scenarios and that the FAA determine whether the faulty parts should be removed from planes. Boeing is working with its supplier to address the issue and ensure appropriate operating procedures for flight crews. The FAA has accepted the NTSB's recommendation and will convene a review board to determine next steps. [Extracted from the article]

A preliminary report on a recent Cathay Pacific Airways flight reveals that an engine fire could have caused significant damage to the plane. The report states that the steel-braided sheath on one of the engine's fuel hoses had ruptured, while five other hoses had frayed or collapsed. The fire occurred shortly after takeoff, prompting the flight crew to issue a distress call. The incident has led to inspections of A350 engines by Europe's aviation regulator, and Cathay Pacific has identified 15 defective fuel hoses that need replacing. The investigation will assess the factors that led to the rupture and review the design, installation, and maintenance of the hoses. [Extracted from the article]

Japan is facing a shortage of pilots as it aims to attract 60 million tourists by 2030. The government is considering measures to address the shortage, including converting foreign pilots' licenses to Japanese ones more quickly and affordably. However, there are challenges to hiring pilots from overseas, such as opposition from local unions and lower salaries compared to other countries. Additionally, the retirement of many airline captains by 2030 further compounds the shortage. The government is also exploring ways to encourage captains to work beyond the age of 65 and attract more female pilots. If the shortage is not addressed, it could hinder Japan's goal of attracting 60 million tourists and impact the country's tourism industry. [Extracted from the article]

Delta Air Lines Inc. expects to lose $380 million in revenue this quarter due to a technology outage caused by CrowdStrike Holdings Inc. The outage resulted in the cancellation of thousands of flights last month. The sales hit is primarily due to customer refunds and compensation in the form of cash and loyalty miles. Delta has hired a law firm to represent them and is pursuing legal claims against CrowdStrike and Microsoft Corp. to recover damages. The US Department of Transportation is also investigating Delta's handling of the breakdown, which could result in a fine for the airline. [Extracted from the article]

Delta Air Lines Inc. expects to lose $380 million in revenue this quarter due to a technology outage caused by CrowdStrike Holdings Inc. The outage resulted in the cancellation of thousands of flights and the airline estimates $170 million in costs to reimburse passengers for expenses and spending related to crews. Delta has hired a law firm to represent them and is pursuing legal claims against CrowdStrike and Microsoft Corp. to recover damages. The US Department of Transportation is also investigating Delta's handling of the breakdown, which could result in a fine for the airline. [Extracted from the article]

Delta Air Lines Inc. expects to lose $380 million in revenue this quarter due to a technology outage caused by CrowdStrike Holdings Inc. The outage resulted in the cancellation of thousands of flights and the airline estimates $170 million in costs to reimburse passengers for expenses and spending related to crews. Delta has hired a law firm to represent them and is pursuing legal claims against CrowdStrike and Microsoft Corp. to recover damages. The US Department of Transportation is also investigating Delta's handling of the breakdown, which could result in a fine for the airline. [Extracted from the article]

Microsoft has claimed that Delta Air Lines rejected their offers for assistance following a system outage last month. Microsoft employees reached out to Delta multiple times to offer technical support, but were turned down each time. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella also personally emailed Delta CEO Ed Bastian but received no response. Delta has hired attorney David Boies and suggested it may seek compensation for the breakdown, which is expected to cost the airline $500 million this quarter. The US Department of Transportation is investigating Delta's handling of the situation, and Microsoft's rebuttal follows similar claims made by CrowdStrike. [Extracted from the article]

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is conducting a two-day hearing to investigate the cause of a Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft losing a fuselage panel during flight earlier this year. Interviews with the flight crew revealed a chaotic scene after the panel blew off, causing a loss of cabin pressure and the cockpit door to swing open. Although no one was seriously injured, the incident has had significant consequences for Boeing, including a management shakeup and a comprehensive review of the company's safety culture. The NTSB is taking a tough stance in the investigation, emphasizing the need to understand what happened on January 5th. Boeing is working to recover from the crisis, implementing changes to improve safety and production. The company's stock has declined, and it has faced financial challenges as a result. The investigation revealed that the panel was missing four bolts, and evidence suggests that it was removed and reinstalled improperly. Boeing has acknowledged a violation of its manufacturing protocols due to missing documentation. The company is making efforts to prevent similar incidents in the future, including design changes to ensure the secure attachment of the door plug. [Extracted from the article]

Microsoft has claimed that Delta Air Lines rejected their offers for assistance following a system outage last month. Microsoft employees reached out to Delta multiple times to offer technical support, but each time Delta declined. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella also personally emailed Delta CEO Ed Bastian but received no response. Delta has hired attorney David Boies and suggested seeking compensation for the breakdown, which it estimates will cost $500 million this quarter. The US Department of Transportation is investigating Delta's handling of the situation, and Microsoft's rebuttal follows similar claims made by CrowdStrike. [Extracted from the article]

Virgin Atlantic Airways is discontinuing its flights between London Heathrow and Shanghai due to the high cost of avoiding Russian airspace. This decision further reduces the airline's connections to the Asia-Pacific region, as it has already closed routes to Hong Kong, Lahore, and Islamabad in recent years. The airline cited significant challenges and complexities on the route as the reason for the suspension. Virgin Atlantic will still have a link to China through its code-share partnership with China Eastern Airlines. [Extracted from the article]

An international team of investigators is searching through the wreckage of two aircraft that collided at Tokyo Haneda airport on January 2. They are trying to determine the cause of the runway incursion, with the cockpit voice and data recorders expected to provide crucial information about the final moments before impact. The smaller De Havilland Canada Dash 8's cockpit voice recorder has been recovered, and the flight recorder of the larger Airbus SE A350 operated by Japan Airlines Co. has also been retrieved. Airbus has sent experts to assist with the investigation, and pressure is mounting to find out what led to the collision and who should be held responsible. The black boxes, which are actually painted bright orange, may take some time to locate and analyze due to the extensive damage caused by the fire that followed the crash. [Extracted from the article]

An international team of investigators is currently examining the wreckage of two aircraft that collided at Tokyo Haneda airport on January 2. The investigators are searching for the black boxes, which contain vital information about the final moments before impact. While the cockpit voice recorder from one of the planes has been recovered, the black boxes from the other plane have not yet been found. The investigation aims to determine the cause of the runway incursion and establish accountability. The search for the black boxes may be complicated by the extensive damage caused by the fire that followed the collision. [Extracted from the article]

Air India's low-cost carrier, Air India Express, has canceled nearly 30 flights due to cabin crew calling in sick. The airline is currently investigating the reasons behind the mass sick leave. The Ministry of Civil Aviation has urged the carrier to resolve the issues promptly and submit a report on the flight cancellations. This incident adds to the challenges faced by Tata Group's aviation business, which recently acquired Air India. The affected passengers will be offered refunds and the option to reschedule their flights. [Extracted from the article]

Air India's budget carrier, Air India Express, has canceled nearly 30 flights due to cabin crew calling in sick. The airline is currently investigating the reasons behind the mass sick leave. This comes as Tata Group's aviation business, which recently acquired Air India, is already facing challenges, with Vistara, a local affiliate, also experiencing similar issues. Air India Express is offering refunds and rescheduling options to affected customers. [Extracted from the article]

Pilots at Air India and Vistara, both owned by the Tata Group, have expressed concerns about being overworked and underpaid. The Indian Pilots' Guild, which represents crew at Air India, wrote a letter to Tata's chairman and the CEOs of Vistara, Air India, and Air India Express, stating that the issues are systemic across Tata's aviation business. The pilots cited difficulties in getting leave approved, unstable rosters, and a "hostile and intimidating" work culture. The complaints pose a challenge to Tata's plan to transform Air India into a world-class airline and also raise concerns about the merger between Air India and Vistara. [Extracted from the article]

Boeing has secured an order for at least 45 aircraft from Thai Airways International, providing a much-needed boost for the US planemaker amidst ongoing scrutiny over its manufacturing practices. The order, which includes an option for additional purchases, will see the new aircraft added to Thai Airways' fleet between 2027 and 2033. The deal comes as Boeing faces the fallout from an Alaska Airlines flight incident earlier this year, which led to the temporary grounding of over 170 Max 9 jets. Thai Airways plans to reveal more details about the order and engine selection at the upcoming Singapore air show. [Extracted from the article]

The article describes the operations of the U.S. Strategic Air Command (SAC) stationed at U.S. and overseas bases. The 200 bombers and crews of SAC are in alert shacks 24 hours a day as they stand primarily as a deterrent to enemy attack. Members of SAC are composed of the best-trained flight crews, sharpest maintenance crews and the best available bombers. At its Offut base near Omaha, Nebraska, the SAC staff reappraises the deterrent strategy in the light of reports on plane and crew readiness and on what the Russians are reportedly doing.

(Bloomberg) -- The head of American Airlines Group Inc.'s pilots union said members shouldn't fly to Israel until it is clear the situation is safe, after war was declared in the region over the weekend. Sicher cited a US State Department travel advisory issued Sunday that said the situation in Israel is unpredictable and "mortar and rocket fire may take place without warning.". [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- Airlines are scrambling to find replacements for hundreds of single-aisle jetliners that will be sidelined by a recently discovered engine issue, providing a boon to companies that lease out aircraft and crews. Monday's announcement by RTX dramatically expanded the scope of required engine checks due to a flaw it disclosed in late July. [Extracted from the article]

Russia Latest: Putin Hails Military Role in Averting "Civil War" (Bloomberg) -- President Vladimir Putin said Russia's military prevented a civil war following the armed rebellion by Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin. Russia's security service closed a criminal investigation into Prigozhin and Wagner after Putin pledged to respect a deal brokered by Lukashenko and allow them to travel to neighboring Belarus. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- The Philippine Supreme Court has declared as unconstitutional an agreement between flag carrier Philippine Airlines Inc. and an employees' union that set a lower retirement age for female cabin attendants. The flag carrier, owned by billionaire Lucio Tan, said a collective bargaining deal between PAL and the flight crew association on June 1 last year set the retirement age at 60 for all cabin crew members regardless of gender. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- The Philippine Supreme Court has declared as unconstitutional an agreement between Philippine Airlines Inc. and an employees' union that set a lower retirement age for female cabin attendants. The mandatory retirement age for female flight attendants is 55, while their male counterparts is 60, based on the collective bargaining agreement between the Flight Attendants and Stewards Association of the Philippines and the flag carrier owned by billionaire Lucio Tan. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- American Airlines Group Inc. flight crew taxied across a John F. Kennedy International Airport runway without clearance on Jan. 13 as a Delta Air Lines Inc. plane was accelerating for takeoff, prompting it to make a high-speed stop, investigators said Friday. In an unusual step, the National Transportation Safety Board said it had issued a subpoena requiring the American pilots to submit to an interview after they declined repeated requests, the agency said in its preliminary update. [Extracted from the article]

The incident followed another fatal Max crash in Indonesia the previous year and led to regulators grounding the model worldwide, plunging Boeing into crisis. (Bloomberg) -- US aviation agencies disputed certain elements of Ethiopia's latest report into the deadly Boeing Co. 737 Max crash near Addis Ababa in 2019, including findings related to actions taken by the flight crew. [Extracted from the article]

For those air crew whose flights return to Hong Kong without a layover, the rule relaxation also ends a requirement for them to wait at the airport for the result of coronavirus tests, though those who stayed the night must still do so. (Bloomberg) -- Hong Kong's government has eased Covid-related restrictions on the movements of locally based crew when making overseas trips, on which the territory's strict rules had previously confined them to their hotels. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- Hong Kong's government has eased Covid-related restrictions on the movements of locally based crew when making overseas trips, on which the territory's strict rules had previously confined them to their hotels. From Tuesday onwards, pilots and flight attendants no longer need to isolate in their hotel when overnighting between the outbound and return legs of foreign flights, Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. said in a memo to staff obtained by Bloomberg. [Extracted from the article]

Hong Kong-based air crews on international passenger flights currently have to undergo three days of hotel quarantine. (Bloomberg) -- Hong Kong is relaxing its quarantine requirement for air crews after the city imposed some of the strictest restrictions on in-flight personnel. [Extracted from the article]

Keywords: 293@HK; ALLTOP; ASIA; ASIATOP; BUSINESS; CHINA; CONS; CONSD; CORONAVIR; COS; GEN; GENTOP; GOV; HK; INDUSTRIAL; INDUSTRIES; LIFESTYLE; TRAVEL; TRN; TRNTOP; WORLD; WWTOP; WWTOPAS EN 293@HK ALLTOP ASIA ASIATOP BUSINESS CHINA CONS CONSD CORONAVIR COS GEN GENTOP GOV HK INDUSTRIAL INDUSTRIES LIFESTYLE TRAVEL TRN TRNTOP WORLD WWTOP WWTOPAS Hong Kong will consider imposing tighter restrictions on aircrew, Chief Executive Carrie Lam said, as the city prioritizes its Covid-Zero policy in a bid to reopen the border with mainland China. Hong Kong, the world's busiest airport for international cargo, is stepping up measures to try to contain the spread of the virus as part of its push to reopen its border with mainland China, which Lam has said comes above everything else. [Extracted from the article]

Keywords: 293@HK; ALLTOP; ASIA; BUSINESS; CHINA; CONS; CONSD; CORONAVIR; COS; EUROPE; EURTOP; GENTOP; GER; HK; INDUSTRIAL; INDUSTRIES; TRN; WORLD; WWTOP; WWTOPAS EN 293@HK ALLTOP ASIA BUSINESS CHINA CONS CONSD CORONAVIR COS EUROPE EURTOP GENTOP GER HK INDUSTRIAL INDUSTRIES TRN WORLD WWTOP WWTOPAS Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. said any aircrew members who have stayed in Frankfurt this month will need to undergo a 21-day quarantine in a government facility after three pilots on cargo flights from the German financial hub were confirmed Covid cases. "Cathay Pacific fully recognizes the Hong Kong SAR government's mission to keep Hong Kong free from Covid-19", Cathay said in the statement. [Extracted from the article]

The article reports on the growth of new airlines. It mentions the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the airline industry, the number of airplanes and flight crews available from older airlines, and the need to rely on tourist traffic to support the airlines.

(Bloomberg) -- Newly built airliners should get anadditional cockpit door to protect against hijackings, USaviation regulators said Wednesday. The proposed new barriers would block entry tothe cockpit during the brief periods when a pilot needsto open the existing doors during flight, the FAA said. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- Singapore's health authorities have confirmed the country's first imported case of monkeypox since 2019, joining at least 42 countries that have reported such infections this year. The virus was detected in a 42-year-old male British flight attendant who tested positive on June 20 and is currently in stable condition at the country's National Center for Infectious Diseases, the country's health ministry said in a statement late Tuesday. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- Airbus SE may need to reduce the top range of its coming A321XLR jetliner, a key selling point for the new narrowbody, as European regulators seek to lessen the fire risk from an extra fuel tank in its rear fuselage, according to people familiar with the matter. Airbus rival Boeing Co. subsequently highlighted the issue, while the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration proposed similar special conditions for the A321XLR last month. [Extracted from the article]

Airbus rival Boeing Co. subsequently highlighted the issue, while the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration proposed similar special conditions for the A321XLR last month. (Bloomberg) -- Airbus SE may need to reduce the top range of its coming A321XLR jetliner, a key selling point for the new narrowbody, as European regulators seek to lessen the fire risk from an extra fuel tank in its rear fuselage, according to people familiar with the matter. [Extracted from the article]

From May 1, quarantine for crew on passenger flights will be lowered to three days from seven, a government spokesman said in an statement on Friday. (Bloomberg) -- Hong Kong will scrap mandatory quarantine for locally based aircrew on cargo flights and reduce it by more than half for those on passenger services, as it slowly peels back Covid restrictions that have isolated the city. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- Hong Kong will scrap mandatory quarantine for locally-based aircrew on cargo flights and reduce it by more than half for those on passenger services, as it slowly peels back Covid restrictions that have isolated the city. From May 1, quarantine for crew on passenger flights will be lowered to three days from seven, according to a memo to airlines seen by Bloomberg News. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- Hong Kong is mulling a significant relaxation of its stringent Covid-19 travel rules for foreign flight crew, including dropping on-arrival virus tests, a key demand called for last week by major airlines. The amount of time travelers have to spend in quarantine upon entering Hong Kong has been halved, and a flight ban on nine countries deemed at high risk for the virus, including the U.S., U.K. and Australia, is being lifted. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- The search area for the flight data recorder of the crashed China Eastern Airlines Corp. jet was widened Thursday, as rain continued to hamper efforts. The two so-called black boxes -- the cockpit voice recorder was retrieved Wednesday and sent to Beijing for analysis -- will help uncover why the Boeing Co. 737-800 NG jet plunged out of the sky at close to the speed of sound and slammed into a hillside in Guangxi, southern China, on Monday. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- NASA awarded Space Exploration Technologies Corp. three additional crew-transport flights to the International Space Station through 2028. Boeing Co., the other contractor NASA selected to ferry astronauts to the station, has struggled to resolve glitches with its Starliner vehicle. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- A Delta Air Lines Inc. passenger createdhavoc on an eight-hour flight from Dublin to New Yorkafter repeatedly refusing to wear a face mask andexposing his backside in Delta's first-class section,according to U.S. prosecutors. "At least one passenger found the defendant'sconduct to be scary", FBI agent Mark Palagiano said in awarrant for the arrest of Shane McInerney. [Extracted from the article]

In remarks Wednesday to the Justice Department staff, Garland said that "those who assaulted officers or damaged the Capitol face greater charges. (Bloomberg) -- The Justice Department "remains committed to holding all January 6th perpetrators, at any level, accountable under law", Attorney General Merrick Garland vowed in a speech ahead of Thursday's anniversary of the deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol. U.S. Attorney General Garland Vows to Go After All Jan. 6 Perpetrators "at Any Level". [Extracted from the article]

Other changes include necessitating that non-mainland China flights to and from Hong Kong be operated by so-called "closed-loop" aircrew, who will be required to spend as many as two weeks in quarantine every time they land in the city, the SCMP said. (Bloomberg) -- Airlines in Hong Kong were informed that crew working on non-China passenger flights have lost all quarantine-related exemptions, the South China Morning Post reported, dealing another blow to carriers reeling as the city's borders remain largely closed. [Extracted from the article]

Hong Kong said last week it would require government employees to present their Covid-19 vaccination records when they enter government buildings and offices for work-related purposes from mid-February. (Bloomberg) -- Hong Kong will mandate three-day hotel quarantines for air cargo crew, as the Asian city steps up efforts to prevent any local transmission of the contagious omicron Covid-19 variant. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- United Airlines Holdings Inc. said it's canceling more than 100 Friday flights, the day before Christmas, because of personnel shortages linked to the spike in omicron Covid-19 cases. The Transportation Security Administration was estimating Dec. 22 and 23 would be the busiest pre-Christmas travel dates nationally and locally, with Jan. 2 and 3 as the most-crowded for post-holiday travel. The jump in cases is affecting the availability of flight crews and ground personnel on the day before Christmas, the carrier said Thursday in an email. [Extracted from the article]

American is hiring pilots, flight attendants and support staff to prepare for more passengers, Chief Operating Officer David Seymour wrote in an October letter to employees. (Bloomberg) -- The razor-thin staffing that contributed to thousands of canceled U.S. passenger flights in October doesn't bode well for smooth holiday travel. [Extracted from the article]

Blue Origin has not disclosed a cost per seat or how much Boshuizen or de Vries paid. (Bloomberg) -- Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin LLC is adding some star power to its second human space flight mission by including on its roster William Shatner, best known for his role as James T. Kirk in the "Star Trek" franchise. [Extracted from the article]

KLM, the Dutch arm of Air France-KLM, has decided not to mandate Covid-19 vaccines for its flight crews. Instead, the airline will ask pilots and flight attendants to register their vaccine status but will accommodate those who are unvaccinated. KLM will adjust schedules to avoid sending unvaccinated crew members to destinations where they would not meet entry requirements. This approach differs from other airlines, particularly in the US, where vaccine status has become a contentious issue. KLM acknowledges that its flexible policy may lead to operational challenges as more countries require vaccinations for airline staff. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- Southwest Airlines Co. Chief Operating Officer Mike Van de Ven was named president, effective immediately, replacing Tom Nealon, who chose to retire. Nealon's departure comes less than three months after Southwest selected Executive Vice President Bob Jordan to replace Gary Kelly as chief executive officer, starting Feb. 1. [Extracted from the article]

Austria Tightens Curbs (5:34 p.m. HK) Austria's government announced a roadmap of restrictionsfor unvaccinated people in an effort to curb the fastestpace of new infections since April. (Bloomberg) -- Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. said itdecided to "part company with a small number of aircrew"who chose not to receive available Covid-19 vaccines anddidn't provide proof of a medical exemption. [Extracted from the article]