EU TO PUSH FOR GLOBAL EMISSIONS REGIME
At the United Nations' Copenhagen climate change meeting in December the European Union is to push for a global market-based instrument for cutting aviation greenhouse gas emissions that would start in 2011. The EU would want the International Civil Aviation Organisation to develop the instrument in 2010, in time for an agreement to be reached by UN members that year and to begin operating alongside the EU's own greenhouse gas emission allowance trading system that starts on 1 January 2012.
AIR TRAFFIC IMPROVING BUT STILL FRAGILE
International air traffic figures are "fragile but improving", according to the International Air Transport Association. Demand in September improved in Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and Latin America, but was still in negative territory in North America and Africa, and continued to deteriorate in Europe. "It is far too early to call this a recovery," says IATA director general Giovanni Bisignani.
NASA ENJOYS ARES I-X TEST SUCCESS
NASA has successfully carried out a 2min powered flight of its Ares I-X test rocket from Kennedy Space Center. The rocket, which reached Mach 4.76 and a suborbital altitude of 150,000ft (45,750m), is being developed as part of NASA's return-to-the-Moon Constellation programme. The booster and solid rocket motor were to be recovered from the sea following splashdown for inspection, but a simulated upper stage and Orion crew module, and launch abort system, will not be recovered.
AMERICAN TO END KANSAS CITY MAINTENANCE
American Airlines is to close its maintenance base in Kansas City in September to reflect the carrier's capacity cuts and fleet reduction from a high of 900 aircraft to about 600 today. Reshaping its maintenance and engineering division will also trigger 700 management and union job losses. Most other US major carriers have outsourced heavy maintenance, but American has opted to keep it in-house, and has also won some third-party work.
LUFTHANSA: FULL-YEAR PROFIT 'AT RISK'
Lufthansa Group says falling revenues and increased fuel prices have left its hopes for achieving a full-year profit for 2009 subject to "very considerable risks". For the first nine months of the year the company made a €226 million ($334 million) operating profit, but a net loss of €32 million as revenues fell 13% to €16.2 billion.
ALITALIA 'TO JOIN DELTA-AIR FRANCE BY SUMMER'
Alitalia hopes to become a "full partner" in the Delta-Air France transatlantic joint venture by the start of next summer's travel season. Alitalia boss Rocco Sabelli was speaking last week at Alitalia's new terminal facilities at Rome's Fiumicino airport.
Source: Flight International
