A winter storm that lashed the Midwest and north-eastern United States has resulted in widespread cancellations and delays of flights, upsetting travel plans for thousands of passengers.

Aer Lingus, the flag-carrier airline of Ireland, is setting up a base at London’s Gatwick Airport and launching routes to Munich, Zurich, Nice and Vienna as well as a few more leisure-focused routes in April 2009.

Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS), the leading carrier in the Scandinavian countries, is selling its stake in airBaltic, the national airline of Latvia, to airBaltic’s management.

Singapore Airlines, the national airline of Singapore, is starting a four-times-a-week service to Kuwait from March 15, 2009.

Airbus Industrie, the aircraft-manufacturing giant based in Toulouse, France, has test-flown one of its Airbus A320 jets with new winglets designed and developed by Aviation Partners, a private corporation based in a Seattle, Washington, the United States, which produces and markets winglet systems.

WestJet Airlines, the low-cost airline based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, plans to start flights to four cities, including San Francisco and San Diego in California, the United States, in 2009.

Delta Air Lines, based and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, the United States, has launched Wi-Fi in-flight internet service on 6 of its aircraft as a prelude to its plan to provide the wireless access service on all of its 330-jet domestic fleet by 2009.

Japan Airlines Corporation (JAL), United States-based aircraft maker Boeing Company and aircraft-engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney are collaborating to develop a bio-fuel that can be used as jet fuel. The bio-fuel to be used is a mix of Camelina (84 %), Jatropha (15 %) and algae (approx. 1 %).

Emirates has marked the arrival of its first non-stop service between Dubai and San Francisco, at the San Francisco International Airport (SFO).

American Airlines, headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, the United States, and the Transport Workers Union of America, the union representing thousands of ground workers, have jointly requested the services of a mediator through the National Mediation Board to resolve issues regarding wage and benefit that have remained undecided after 11 days of negotiations.

JetBlue Airways founder David Neeleman's fourth low-lost airline takes off from Brazil.

Vietnam Airlines, the national flag carrier of Vietnam, has signed a $112-million contract to buy six ATR 72-500 turboprop planes from ATR, despite falling tourism in the country, with a view to modernising its fleet of short-haul turboprop aircraft.

The Italian Air Company (CAI), the Italy-based consortium of investors, has formally taken over Alitalia, the flag-carrier airline of Italy.

Jet Airways has initiated a partnership which includes a unilateral code share agreement and a reciprocal frequent flyer arrangement with Dubai based Emirates Airline.

China is making efforts to merge China Eastern Airlines and Shanghai Airlines, both airlines based in Shanghai in the People’s Republic of China.

The Commerce Commission of New Zealand, the country’s competition watchdog, has launched legal action against 13 airlines and 7 individuals for alleged price-fixing and “extensive and long-term cartel activity in the air-cargo market.”

ACE Aviation Holdings Incorporated, which owns a 75% stake in Air Canada, the largest airline in Canada and the counry’s flag carrier, has dedicdded to wind up its operations.

The Federal Court of Australia has fined Qantas Airways, Australia’s national airline, Australian $20 million (US $13.1 million) after the airline admit that it engaged in price-fixing linked to international cargo fuel surcharges.

The British Airports Authority (BAA), the owner and operator of seven airports in the United Kingdom and also the operator of several other airports worldwide, may be fined up to £9 million a year if it does not improve customer service levels at London’s Stansted Airport.

After an absence of 12 years, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, the national airline of the Netherlands and also a part of Air France-KLM, is resuming service to Calgary, the largest city in the province of Alberta in Canada, with non-stop flights to Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport from May 3, 2009.

Emirates Airline will trial a new environmental programme on December 15, when it flies the longest green journey. The programme, to be analyzed and reviewed on the airline’s inaugural flight from Dubai to San Francisco, will represent the world’s first cross-polar green flight, said Emirates.

Enerjet, Canada’s newest charter airline, has chosen Kerala-based IBS Software Solutions’ iFly Passenger Services System for its integrated reservations, ticketing, and departure operations. Enerjet is a privately held Canadian Corporation based in Calgary, Alberta.

Airbus, the European aircraft manufacturer, and Turkey’s state-owned Turkish Aerospace Industries (Tusas) have signed a 500-million-dollar agreement under which the Turkish manufacturer will produce parts for Airbus A350 passenger aircraft.

Delta Air Lines, based and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, the United States, has said that the November 2008 traffic dropped at both Delta and its new subsidiary, Northwest Airlines.

Sri Lankan Airlines, the national airline of Sri Lanka, has decidded to do away with fuel surcharges altogether to destinations in South Asia, Middle East and East Asia as well as reduce surcharges on long-haul flights from January 1, 2009.

Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok, Thailand, has been officially reopened for commercial operations, after it had been shut down for eight days by anti-government protesters from the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD). The airport was partly reopened a few days ago after the PAD left the airport premises.

SriLankan Airlines has launched a re-fleeting programme, and has taken delivery of the first of several new Airbus A320 aircraft, the first to join the Sri Lankan national carrier in more than four years.

Emirates is to double its services between two of the fastest growing cities - Dubai and Lagos.

Dubai-based Emirates Airline has said that that it will boost its ongoing initiatives to facilitate travel for passengers affected due to the closure of Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, by operating two additional, special flights to U-Taphao Airport until December 5 as well as re-instating its scheduled Dubai-Bangkok-Dubai flight effective December 6.

Deutsche Lufthansa AG, the flag carrier of Germany, has offered to take over the loss-making rival Austrian Airlines, the flag-carrier airline of Austria, and pay up to 377 million euros ($475 million) to take full control.