A passenger jet has landed safely at Manchester Airport after being forced to return to the airport shortly after take-off because of engine trouble. The Flybe plane, bound for Bournemouth, initially encountered some technical difficulties. The crew told passengers that there was nothing to worry about, but the situation worsened to the point where it was decided that one of the aircraft’s engines should be shut down.
One of the passengers said that the plane’s captain had spoken to those on board twice over the PA system. The passenger added that the aircraft had gone pretty silent after the announcements except [...]

There has been no indication given as to what caused Pakistan’s worst-ever passenger plane disaster. A day of mourning is being observed across the country as teams of rescue workers struggle to sift through debris and recover the bodies of the victims. According to eyewitnesses, the Airbus A321, carrying a total of 152 passengers and crew, was flying at a very low level in monsoon rain and with poor visibility. Reports that the aircraft’s black-box flight recorder has been recovered are being denied by officials.
The aircraft crashed into the Margalla Hills close to the capital city of Islamabad. The location [...]

Aircraft manufacturer Boeing has announced a fall in its quarterly net profits. Between April and June profits fell 21 per cent to $787 million compared to the same period last year when net profits reached $998 million. Although the drop can be attributed to less planes being delivered, the fall was not as sharp as some analysts feared.
During the second quarter, Boeing managed to deliver 114 commercial aircraft. In the same quarter last year the manufacturer was able to deliver 125. Deliveries for the whole of the first half of this year were down by 10 per cent on 2009.
Boeing [...]

Europe’s biggest airline, Air France-KLM, admits that it may have been a little too cautious in its profit predictions for the year, and analysts agree. For the first-quarter, ending June 30, the airline said that its operating profit hit 26 million euros. This does not include the 158 million euros the volcanic ash cloud cost the carrier, but the result is strong compared to the period a year earlier when the airline announced a loss of 496 million euros.
Air France-KLM said the better than expected performance was mainly due to a return of the business traveller and an increase in [...]

A merger, which would create the largest airline in the world, has been given the go ahead by the European Commission. Competition regulators in Europe have announced that they do not believe a tie up between US giants Continental and United would have any significant effect on airline competition in Europe.
Currently, both airlines fly to a combined total of 35 destinations within Europe. The new airline, which will retain the name United Airlines, will now have to get the approval of anti-trust bodies in the US as well as a positive vote from their respective shareholders.
The European Commission said that [...]

Continental Airlines has announced that it is currently testing an automated self-boarding system at one of its gates at Houston Intercontinental Airport. Although self-boarding gates are not a new thing for many of the world’s airlines, the Continental experiment is the first in the US.
The airline has not released a great deal of information about the experiment, but all passengers now have to do when they are barding their plane, is to swipe their boarding pass through and electronic reader. Once this is done a turnstile or set of doors will open and the customer can cross the jet-bridge and [...]

The ongoing row between British Airways and cabin crew union Unite over travel privileges may now end up in the courts. Unite is claiming that BA is in breach of legislation on European Human Rights. If the fight does enter the courts, Unite will also claim that BA did not follow the correct disciplinary procedures when removing travel perks.
In a statement, BA said that it would defend the fact that it had always acted in accordance with the rules, and that it totally rejected the union’s claims. The ongoing battle follows BA’s cabin crew voting to reject the airlines latest [...]

The Vatican has said that in order to avoid the possibility of disruption due to strikes by British Airways’ cabin crew, the Pope will be flying to and from the UK, when he makes his official visit in the autumn, with Alitalia, the Italian state airline. Tradition usually dictates that the Pope flies back to Rome after a tour on board the flag carrier of the country he has just visited.
The recent rejection of a new pay deal by BA staff means that strike action could occur as soon a September, when Benedict XVI is due to make his four-day [...]

A number of mourners gathered in the Paris suburb of Gonesse on Sunday to remember, and pay their respect to, the 113 people who died when an Air France Concorde crashed shortly after taking off from Charles de Gaulle Airport 10 years ago. Two ceremonies took place. The first was attended by officials, Air France employees and a number of local residents.
A minutes silence was observed. Local mayor, Jean Pierre Blazy, said he hoped that the results of an investigation would put and end to speculation about the crash and finally bring someone to justice. He added that he feared [...]

The recent announcement that Flybe has placed a firm order for 35 new aircraft could be good news for Cardiff Airport. Steve Hodgetts, the airport’s business development and commercial director, said that he is very keen to sit down with the airline and discuss ways in which Cardiff and Flybe can work together to offer passengers more frequency to more destinations throughout Europe.
Flybe is currently Europe’s number one regional airline. It already carries passengers from Cardiff to a number of destinations including Belfast, Paris and Edinburgh. The airline is looking to expand its presence in the business market and if [...]