UK to remove testing requirements for fully vaccinated travellers

FAA approves more 5G towers at US airports

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the civil aviation regulator in the US, has given clearance to telecom companies Verizon and AT&T to turn on additional 5G cell towers at some of the key airports in the country.

This came after consultations to ensure that these towers do not interfere with aeroplanes landing at the airport during a poor weather scenario.

The FAA gave its approval after the wireless firms provided more precise data on the location of wireless transmitters.

The firms are also said to have supported a more detailed evaluation of how 5G C-band signals interact with sensitive aeroplane systems.

UK proposes new airline compensation rules

The UK Government has proposed changes to airline compensation rules, with an aim to help passengers seeking justice from unfair practices.

This includes the creation of a new fairer compensation model for domestic flight delays.

According to the new proposals, air travellers can claim compensation based on the length of the flight delay and linked to the cost of travel instead of having to meet a certain threshold of a three-hour delay.

Additionally, the UK Government intends to make it mandatory to include all airlines in the aviation Alternative Dispute Resolution scheme.

Lufthansa considers stake in Italy’s ITA Airways

German airline Lufthansa is reportedly planning to acquire a 40% stake in ITA Airways, the state-owned flag carrier of Italy.

Citing two people familiar with the development, The Irish Times reported that talks between the two airlines are ongoing.

One of the persons said that Lufthansa and ITA are discussing the price for a 40% stake while the other person familiar with the development stated that the finalisation of the deal is expected to take more than a few days.

A Lufthansa spokesperson did not comment on the news but further stressed that the German carrier is open to an alliance with ITA Airways.

UK extends airport slot alleviation rules for the third quarter of 2022

The UK Government has extended its alleviation of airport slot use rules for the third quarter of 2022 in order to support aviation recovery but raised the minimum threshold to 70%.

Under the new rule, airlines will have to use their slots 70% of the time to retain them, which is still less than the pre-pandemic threshold of 80%.

Airlines will also receive support as demand for flights continues to return to pre-pandemic levels.

Furthermore, the government has expanded the list of situations for airlines where they can claim justification for not using their slots and they will no longer be needed to show that the measures were unforeseeable.

The 70% threshold is higher than the EU requirement, which has set its threshold at 64%.

Virgin Atlantic and Latam Airlines reach codeshare agreement

British airline Virgin Atlantic has entered a codeshare alliance with Chile-based carrier Latam Airlines, allowing its passengers to gain better connectivity to Brazil.

Passengers booking through Virgin Atlantic will have the option to fly directly from London Heathrow to Sao Paulo Guarulhos and connect to 12 airports in Brazil thereafter.

These include Rio de Janeiro, Porto Alegre, Belo Horizonte, Brasilia, Curitiba, Florianopolis, Fortaleza, Goiania, Recife, Salvador, Vitoria, and Londrina.

Those flying to London Heathrow from São Paulo will also be able to connect onto Virgin Atlantic’s other destinations through Terminal 3.