Source: Emmie V. Abadilla | Manila Bulletin

Flying cheap made more Filipinos travel, with low-cost carriers (LCCs) accounting for 96% of total domestic air travel growth from 2006 to 2011, as opposed to full-service carriers contributing only 4 percent.

Source: pressdisplay.com

British Airways parent IAG may bring a Gulf airline into the Oneworld alliance this year and considers Qatar Airways to be a top candidate, IAG’S chief executive officer said.

Source: Cliff Harvey C. Venzon | BusinessWorld Online

REGULATORS are planning to hike the terminal fees of more than 70 domestic and international airports in a bid to generate funding for their development, an official said.

Source: Paolo G. Montecillo | Philippine Daily Inquirer

The government may force local airlines to reduce flights out of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), hoping to decongest the country’s premiere international gateway.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines—Zest Air has started flying direct from Manila to Quanzhou and Jinjiang, China.

Source: Daxim L. Lucas | Philippine Daily Inquirer

“Like buying a headache” is one of the most common descriptions used to describe San Miguel Corp.’s recent acquisition of a 49-percent stake, along with management control, in Philippine Airlines.

Source: Andrea Rothman and Mary Jane Credeur | Bloomberg.com

United Continental Holdings Inc. (UAL) is negotiating only with Boeing Co. (BA) for an order of about 200 narrow-body jets after dropping discussions with Airbus SAS (EAD), two people familiar with the matter said.

Source: reuters.com

(Reuters) - Kuwaiti logistics company Agility said on Tuesday it had filed for $225 million in claims against the U.S. Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), saying the agency had breached the terms of a contract.

Source: aviationbrief.com

Qantas (QF) is still eyeing Singapore as the base for its premium Asia carrier.

Source: airbus.com

Jetstar Japan, one of Japan’s newest low-cost carriers (LCC), has taken delivery of its first Airbus A320 aircraft in Toulouse, France. The Japanese carrier will start commercial services in July operating from Narita to Kansai, Fukuoka, Sapporo, and Okinawa with an initial fleet of three aircraft. This fleet will grow to 24 aircraft within three years.

Source: David Black | thenational.ae

Agility, a logistics company based in Kuwait, is claiming US$225 million (Dh826.4m) in unpaid fees and damages from the US government over an alleged breach of its contract to supply foodstuffs to the US military in Kuwait and Iraq.

Source: sg.finance.yahoo.com

Iraq will reopen this week the Baghdad to Mumbai air route after a hiatus of more than 21 years, as a growing number of Iraqis are travelling to India, officials said on Tuesday.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer

The airline industry will cooperate with the Ombudsman in investigating a complaint filed by airport customs examiners against their immediate superiors for allegedly padding their overtime claims with airline companies, and pocketing, instead of distributing properly, the money collected.

Source: The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines - The airline industry is willing to cooperate with the Ombudsman in investigating a complaint filed by airport Customs examiners against their immediate superiors for allegedly padding their overtime claims with airline companies, and pocketing, instead of distributing properly, the money collected.

Source: Cliff Harvey C. Venzon | Business World Online

THE DEPARTMENT of Transportation and Communications (DoTC) is set to open next week the auction for the P498-million airport security screening system, an official said.

Source: AFP | news.yahoo.com

Qantas chief Alan Joyce Monday said bottlenecks at Sydney airport were unsustainable and called for a second hub in the city before its global reputation was damaged.

Source: Manila Bulletin

CANBERRA (Dow Jones) – The Australian government is looking again at sites for a second commercial airport in Sydney, Transport and Infrastructure Minister Anthony Albanese said Friday as he released a new study into the city's aviation needs.

Source: bworldonline.com

ALMOST ALL concerns raised by the US regarding Philippine aviation safety have been addressed and Washington has been advised that remaining issues are being worked out, an official said.

Source: Paolo G. Montecillo | business.inquirer.net

Low-cost carriers (LCCs) were behind nearly all of the growth in the Philippine air travel sector over the last five years, Gokongwei-led Cebu Pacific said on Thursday.

Source: Chris Cooper and Kiyotaka Matsuda | Bloomberg.com

Japan Airlines Co., which began Boston services yesterday with its new Boeing Co. (BA) 787, may also use the fuel-efficient plane on routes to Spain and Germany as it bolster services to smaller cities.

Source: Paolo G. Montecillo | Philippine Daily Inquirer

Zest Airways, the airline of juice drink magnate Alfred Yao, has bared plans to fly to the Middle East, which is home to millions of overseas Filipino workers.

Source: Rudy Santos | The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines - A Hong Kong-bound Cathay Pacific flight turned back shortly after takeoff yesterday from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and was delayed by half an hour to offload what airline crew said was an “unruly” honorary Filipino consul.

Source: Emmie V. Abadilla | Manila Bulletin

MANILA, Philippines — Philippines’ AirAsia, the country’s newest low cost carrier, launched its maiden flight on April 20, 2012 from Clark International Airport to Puerto Princesa City, Palawan with an all-in fare of P799 one way.

Source: Bhavan Jaipragas | Manila Bulletin

SINGAPORE (AFP) – A Qantas Airbus A380 jet that dramatically lost an engine in a mid-air blast off Singapore in November 2010 was formally handed back to the Australian flag carrier Saturday after extensive repairs.

Source: online.wsj.com

HONG KONG (Dow Jones)--Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. (0293.HK) warned that the airline may have to park aircraft and reduce flights if weakening demand and high fuel costs persist, underscoring the troubles faced by the global airline industry.

Source: David Koenig and Joshua Freed | Manila Bulletin

DALLAS (AP) – US Airways has struck deals with unions at American Airlines to win their support for a possible merger of the two airlines.

Source: asianage.com

Australian flag carrier Qantas is still considering Singapore as the base for a premium carrier in Asia, chief executive Alan Joyce said in a report published Monday.

Source: The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines - The government’s decision to stop charging airlines for the overtime of customs and other airport personnel and adopt a 24/7 operation as practiced all over the world will make the country more competitive and hence more attractive to business and tourists, foreign and local airlines said in a statement.

Source: Karthikeyan Sundaram (BLOOMBERG) | Manila Bulletin

MANILA, Philippines — Air India Ltd., the unprofitable state-owned carrier supported by government bailouts, plans to raise as much as $1 billion in loans from overseas for working capital.

Source: Edu Lopez | Manila Bulletin

MANILA, Philippines — Over 24 million jobs and $470 billion in gross domestic product (GDP) in the Asia-Pacific region are supported by aviation, according to a new report by the Air Transport Action Group(ATAG) and Oxford Economics.

Source: Alex Webb and Chris Jasper (BLOOMBERG) | Manila Bulletin

MANILA, Philippines — An African white rhinoceros peers through the bars of its Frankfurt compound, while across the floor a Madagascan chameleon inches around its vivarium and an Andean alpaca plucks hay from a bale.

Source: Chris Cooper and Kiyotaka Matsuda (BLOOMBERG) | Manila Bulletin

MANILA, Philippines — Jetstar Japan Co., the budget carrier backed by Qantas Airways Ltd. and Japan Airlines Co., said it plans to operate at least four bases in the country as it prepares to start flights on July 3.

Source: Mary Ann Ll. Reyes | The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines - Key executives of Philippine Airlines (PAL) and its parent firm PAL Holdings have reportedly tendered their resignation last week after San Miguel Corp. (SMC) acquired a significant stake in Asia’s oldest airline.

Source: Karen Jacobs | Reuters.com

(Reuters) - Rising fuel prices pushed major U.S. airlines into the red for the first quarter and could pressure results during the peak travel season, but most carriers are likely to be profitable this year, analysts said.

Source: JL | airlineroute.net

Update at 0730GMT 09APR12

As per 09APR12 GDS timetable and inventory display, Air Seychelles is adjusting operations from 01MAY12. From this date, Air Seychelles’ operation will be operated by ETIHAD aircraft. Its Boeing 767 aircraft is tentatively scheduled for final flight on 30APR12, Seychelles – Abu Dhabi. However, schedule after June is still displaying 767 operation to Johannesburg.

Source: Edu Lopez | Manila Bulletin

MANILA, Philippines — Malaysia Airlines is offering customers increased full-service weekly frequencies between Kuala Lumpur and the cities of Beijing, Manila, Phnom Penh, Los Angeles, Taipei, Bangkok, Medan and Jakarta to take advantage of anticipated increasing demand on these routes.

Source: Louella D. Desiderio | The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines - Singapore-based budget carrier Tiger Airways Holdings Ltd. is raising its stake in local carrier South East Asian Airlines (SEAir).

Source: Anne Walters | oklahomawelcome.com

April 17--WASHINGTON -- The first commercial spacecraft due to dock with the International Space Station looks ready for an April 30 launch, the US space agency NASA and commercial firm Space X said Monday.

Source: Manila Bulletin

MANILA, Philippines — Cebu Pacific (CEB) slashes fares on all its Mindanao routes and ASEAN destinations including Malaysia and Singapore from April 17-19, 2012 or until seats last. This is for travel from June 1 to August 31, 2012.

Source: The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines - Qatar Airways clarified yesterday that it has 14 weekly flights between Manila and Doha, and not twice weekly as reported in The STAR on April 3.

Source: channelnewsasia.com

SYDNEY: A Qantas jet carrying 231 passengers and crew suffered an engine failure at 25,000 feet due to the fatigue fracture of a turbine blade, an inquiry found Monday.

Source: businessweek.com

China's civil aviation administration is investigating recent incidents in which airline passengers rushed onto the tarmac at two airports in protest over flight delays, official media said Monday.

Source: The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines - From a full load of five passengers on its maiden flight to Baguio back in 1941, Philippine Airlines (PAL) today has carried more than 300 million passengers over the last seven decades – a feat unequalled by any other local carrier.

Source: Rudy Santos | The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines - The Manila International Airport Authority (Miaa) yesterday asked the owners of about a dozen vintage airplanes to remove them from the general aviation area because they are eyesores and safety hazards.

Source: Rainier Allan Ronda | The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines - Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima has ordered the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and other agencies to assign employees at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) 24 hours daily and stop charging international airlines the overtime pay of government personnel working at the airport.

Source: Rainier Allan Ronda | The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines - Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño has called for an investigation into the reported lack of crash fire response (CFR) fire trucks and personnel in several of the country’s international airports.

Source: Cliff Harvey C. Venzon | BusinessWorld Online

THE CIVIL AERONAUTICS Board (CAB) has thrown its support behind San Miguel Corp.’s buy-in into flag carrier Philippine Airlines, Inc. (PAL), saying such investments to grow the industry were encouraged.

Source: businessmirror.com.ph

CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga—Omni Aviation Corp., the country’s most reputable flight school, has taken flight training to another level following its recent acquisition of two highly advanced flight simulators from the United States.

Source: inquirer.net

MANILA, Philippines–Tourists who visit Hong Kong will soon just be a short plane ride away to the world-famous, fine sand beaches of Boracay as Philippine Airlines (PAL) opens a direct Hong Kong-Kalibo flight starting April 27.

Source: NYDailyNews.com

TORONTO — A Korean Airlines Boeing 777 en route from Vancouver to Seoul was diverted to a nearby Canadian military base after the airline’s U.S. call center received a bomb threat.

Source: The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines - Etihad Airways continued its industry-leading growth in the first quarter of 2012, with a 28 percent rise in revenue to $ 989 million over the corresponding period in 2011 and passenger numbers soaring by 500,000 to 2.4 million.

Source: Olivia Rondonuwu and Tim Hepher | Reuters

(Reuters) - Indonesia's Garuda (GIAA.JK) is close to buying A330 jets worth about $2.5 billion from Europe's Airbus, two people familiar with the deal said, strengthening a bonanza for Western planemakers as the archipelago nation latches on to a boom in air travel.

Source: Paolo G. Montecillo | Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines and South Korea have agreed to increase flights between the two countries amid growing demand for travel in the Asia Pacific region, the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) said.

Source: Mary Ann Ll. Reyes | Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines - With San Miguel Corp. (SMC) taking over management control of flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL), the former is set to implement a number of changes aimed at putting the long-suffering airline back on its feet.

Source: The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino and Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani witnessed the signing of five agreements to enhance business relations between the Philippines and Qatar at Malacañang yesterday.

Source: Kris Bayos | Manila Bulletin

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC) said it is considering taking on a more hands-on approach on government’s efforts to regain Category 1 aviation safety status.

Source: Lenie Lectura | BusinessMirror

AFTER months of often uncertain negotiations, Philippine Airlines and San Miguel Corp. have finally signed several agreements allowing the latter to invest in the former.

Source: globalnation.inquirer.net

MANILA, Philippines — Several airlines will reroute flights over the Philippines to avoid a rocket North Korea is expected to launch between this and next week, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines said Tuesday.

Source: Doris C. Dumlao | Philippine Daily Inquirer

Philippine Airlines, which recently took in the San Miguel Corp as a new investor, is seen investing as much as $1 billion for a fleet modernization program that will make the storied flag carrier more competitive.

Source: C. H. C. Venzon | BusinessWorld Online

THE MANILA International Airport Authority (MIAA) aims to improve revenue collection from airport concessionaires to recoup losses from lower terminal fees in February, an official said.

Source: Jason Gutierrez | AFP News -posted in ph.news.yahoo.com

Philippine Airlines said Wednesday it had sold a minority stake in the loss-making carrier to San Miguel Corp, one of the country's biggest conglomerates, but both sides refused to disclose details.

Source: Zinnia Dela Peña | The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines - Budget carrier Cebu Pacific has beefed up its flights by 22 percent due to the expected travel surge during the summer break.

Source: reuters.com

(Reuters) - Kingfisher Airlines (KING.NS) will resume payment of staff salaries starting this week after tax authorities unfroze its bank accounts, the airline's chairman and managing director, liquor baron Vijay Mallya, said in a letter to employees.

Source: reuters.com

(Reuters) - Pinnacle Airlines Corp (PNCL.O) filed for bankruptcy protection late on Sunday, as the U.S. regional airline fell victim to high fuel prices and dampened travel demand that has negatively impacted some of the major players in the industry.

Source: DAVID FICKLING (BLOOMBERG) thru mb.com.ph

MANILA, Philippines — Qantas Airways Ltd., Australia’s largest carrier, said it will raise fuel surcharges as much as 9.7 percent on some routes and rein in capacity growth as higher global jet-fuel prices cut into profitability.

Source: france24.com

AFP - Airline group Air France-KLM, struggling for profit, said Monday it will develop low-cost short- and medium-haul services through its no-frills Transavia unit and seek more savings.

Source: Cliff Harvey C. Venzon | BusinessWorld

DIVERSIFIED CONGLOMERATE San Miguel Corp. yesterday said it remains in negotiations with Philippines Airlines (PAL) Chairman Lucio C. Tan to acquire a stake in the flag carrier amid reports that a buy-in was approved on Monday.