Rappler's latest stories on aviation
Iran says misaligned radar led to Ukrainian jet downing
This error 'initiated a hazard chain' that saw further errors committed in the minutes before the plane was accidentally shot down in January, says a report by the Iranian Civil Aviation Organization

Africa airline industry lost $55 billion from virus shutdowns
The African Union says 'there are airlines that may not survive COVID-19'

U.S. regulators complete test flights on Boeing 737 MAX
Besides evaluating data from the test flights, regulators still must develop pilot training protocols for the Boeing 737 MAX and inspect newly manufactured aircraft

Slow takeoff for aviation in Europe
The International Air Transport Association fears 'the worst may be yet to come' in the European aviation industry, with millions of jobs at risk

Pakistan Int'l Airlines suspended in Europe over fake pilot license scandal
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency tells Pakistan International Airlines 'they have lost their confidence' in the carrier

Boeing 737 MAX takes to skies for long-awaited test flight
Though the certification flights are a critical phase, the US Federal Aviation Administration stresses that 'a number of key tasks remain' before the Boeing 737 MAX can return to service

Face masks, health checks, and long check-ins: The future of flying
As the aviation industry attempts to find a way forward, experts warn the impact of the coronavirus pandemic will be far-reaching

France pledges 15 billion euros for stricken aviation firms
(UPDATED) The French government says it is taking action to save around 100,000 jobs in the country's aviation industry

Cathay Pacific unveils US$5-billion bailout plan
(UPDATED) Hong Kong's government will take a small stake in Cathay Pacific as part of a bailout plan worth HK$39 billion (US$5 billion)

U.N. agency recommends health guidelines for airlines
From aircraft disinfection to passengers traveling light, here are the recommendations of the International Civil Aviation Organization

Crashed Pakistani jet's cockpit voice recorder found
Pakistan's aviation minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan says a French-led investigation team will analyze the Airbus A320's recorders

DOTr wants more int'l flights landing in regional airports starting June 1
The plan will be a big help to overseas Filipino workers returning to hometowns in the Visayas and Mindanao

40 bodies recovered, dozens more feared dead in Pakistan plane crash
(4th UPDATE) The Pakistan International Airlines plane was close to landing when it came down among houses, sparking an explosion and killing several people on the ground

Aviation needs confidence to take off again – industry chief
The International Air Transport Association says airlines are working on developing procedures that would be safe and permit economically viable operations

[OPINION] The era of cheap flights is over
'When the dust settles, whether by reason of conscience, aversion to novel pathogens, or dislike of higher prices, many will put off from taking to the sky'

Virus-ravaged UK aviation sector faces quarantine woe
Operators of United Kingdom airlines and airports express alarm over the British government's plan to impose a 14-day quarantine on inbound travelers

NAIA to resume international arrivals starting May 11
Manila's international airport will maintain its limit of 400 passengers daily

Airport rental holiday extended to May 15
Landing and take-off, and parking fees for domestic and international flights in CAAP airports are also deferred for a year, until March 2021
Tugade pushes for reopening of airports in GCQ areas
'This will plant the seeds for domestic tourism. This should seriously be considered,' says Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade

Virus could mean 1.2 billion fewer airline passengers
The International Civil Aviation Organization says the 'most substantial reduction in passenger numbers' is expected to be in Europe

CAAP grounds Lionair fleet after deadly plane crash
Lionair's entire fleet cannot operate while the probe into the crash is ongoing. Investigators already have the plane's cockpit voice recorder.

EU aviation agency tells airlines to disinfect planes
The European Aviation Safety Agency says airlines on all routes must 'step up the frequency of cleaning'

Plane skids off runway in Istanbul, breaks into 2
It is not known how many people have been injured, but officials say no one died

Toyota investing $400 million in flying car company
The investment in Joby Aviation comes as Toyota looks to expand into new sectors as the industry rapidly transforms

NAIA targets partial operations on January 13
NAIA is no longer experiencing ashfall. Departure flights will be prioritized on Monday, January 13, to free up aircraft parking slots.

NAIA flights 'on hold' due to Taal Volcano ash eruption
(3rd UPDATE) Ash reaches NAIA's runways and ramps. The suspension of flights will remain in effect 'until further notice.'

Ukraine in national mourning after deadly airliner crash
'Ukraine's priority is to establish the causes of the catastrophe. We are undoubtedly going to get to the truth,' says Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky

Iran says Ukrainian plane turned back before crashing
(UPDATED) Both Canada and the United States call for a full investigation to determine the cause of the crash

Airlines avoid Iran and Iraq airspace
(UPDATED) Shortly after the missile attacks, the US Federal Aviation Administration says it is banning US-registered carriers from flying over Iraq, Iran, and the Gulf

Airports' status in aftermath of Typhoon Ursula
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines gives updates on 7 airports affected by Typhoon Ursula

U.S. aviation chief says Boeing 737 MAX won't be recertified until 2020
The MAX has been grounded since March following the second of two crashes that killed a total of 346 people

Entertainment City firms slam DOTr order to transfer flights
City of Dreams Manila, Solaire, and Resorts World representatives say transferring flights to Sangley Airport will inconvenience their VIP guests

Passenger arrested for bomb joke at Davao airport
The incident also delays the departure of a Davao-Cebu flight on Sunday, November 3

Ex-CAAP official guilty of using agency funds for own gas expenses
In a plea deal, former CAAP chief financial officer Abner Bondoc admits guilt to a lesser offense and vows to refund the agency, instead of going through a graft trial

At least 7 dead as World War II plane crashes in the U.S. – reports
The Boeing B-17 aircraft, which the US Air Force deployed against Germany and Japan, crashes at Bradley International Airport while trying to land

End of Boeing 737 MAX grounding up to individual countries – U.S. FAA
This statement points to a lack of consensus among regulators on when to clear the Boeing 737 MAX for service

Cockpit voice recorder of crashed plane in Laguna retrieved, to be decoded
The aircraft wreckage also undergoes reconstruction

DOTr wants faster Antique Airport development
The completion rate of the Antique Airport Development Project stands at 12%. It is supposed to be finished in June 2020.

Boeing reports $2.9 billion loss in Q2, biggest quarterly loss ever
The loss follows an earlier announcement that Boeing will set aside $4.9 billion after taxes to compensate airlines for canceled flights and the delay in plane deliveries

Pakistanis angered by new airport baggage-wrapping policy
One commenter calls Pakistan's mandatory baggage wrapping a 'corrupt profit-making endeavor,' while some argue it would be harmful to the environment

CAAP declares 'no-fly zone' over Batasan for SONA 2019
(UPDATED) The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines prohibits airmen from flying up to 10 kilometers near Plaridel, Bulacan, where aviation schools are located, ahead of the 2019 State of the Nation Address

Airbus to ask airlines to check wings of older A380s for cracks
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency says there are reports of cracks found in wings of in-service A380 airplanes

Planes landing in Israel see GPS signals disrupted
It has baffled authorities who have failed to find the source and forced airports to change some landing procedures

Free LRT 2, MRT, PNR rides for students starting July 1
(UPDATED) Students need only to show their school IDs to get free rides during specific hours on weekdays, except holidays
Wreckage of trainer aircraft found off Mindoro Strait
But the Filipino pilot and the Saudi Arabian student pilot remain missing

Pilot says lightning caused deadly Russian crash landing
Pilot Denis Yevdokimov tells Russian media the craft lost communication and needed to switch to emergency control mode 'because of lightning' on the Aeroflot flight to the Arctic city of Murmansk

Boeing conducts final test flight of 737 MAX with software fix
CEO Dennis Muilenberg also says test pilots have completed 120 flights totaling more than 203 hours of airtime with the software fix for its planes' anti-stall system

India's debt-stricken Jet Airways suspends all operations
The airline was once India's second-biggest by market share but is on the brink of collapse with debts of more than $1 billion
Boeing must do more work on proposed 737 fix – U.S. regulator
Additional work is needed 'to ensure that Boeing has identified and appropriately addressed all pertinent issues,' says a Federal Aviation Administration spokesman

Iceland's WOW Air budget carrier collapses, cancels all flights
(UPDATED) The closure of WOW Air, which transports more than a third of those traveling to Iceland, comes after buyout talks with rival Icelandair collapsed earlier this week
