United States-based airlines have secured as much as US$25 billion in payroll support from the federal government. The funds are part of a US$2 trillion relief package signed by Congress in response to the unprecedented economic damage caused the coronavirus pandemic.

Some 86 accidents involving large passenger aircraft were recorded in 2019, according to new analysis from aviation consultants To70. Of these, eight were fatal, with the loss of 257 lives – a fall of nearly 50 per cent.

Which? are warning airlines that they are at risk of breaking consumer law by imposing rip-off ‘no show’ clauses. Some carriers use the clauses to cash in when a passenger misses the first leg of their journey, the consumer advocates argue.

Delayed airline passengers lost a major battle at the European Court earlier, as a judge ruled in favour of airline bosses who had argued flights delayed or cancelled because of a bird strike on an aircraft are an “extraordinary circumstance”.

The United Nations civil aviation agency has agreed on a new emissions standard to control global greenhouse gas emissions from international airline flights. “It has taken a great deal of effort and understanding to reach this stage, and I want to applaud the spirit of consensus and compromise demonstrated by our member States, industry and civil society,” remarked Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu, the council president of the International Civil Aviation Organisation.

iPass has announced it has extended the term of its partnership with Deutsche Telekom AG to offer inflight Wi-Fi access to iPass customers on 12 international airlines. The new three-year agreement will make iPass available on 330 long-haul aircraft. With this partnership iPass will be available to passengers on airlines including Lufthansa, Aer Lingus, Etihad and American Airlines.