The United States House of Representatives has passed the Airline Safety and Pilot Training Improvement Act of 2009.

The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed fines against two major US-based airlines – US Airways and United Airlines – for having flown their  planes “on hundreds of occasions” violating the FAA’s rules or other standards for airline safety.

Southwest Airlines, the low-fare carrier based in Dallas, Texas, the United States has started asking its frequent-fliers to update their profiles with information such as name, gender and date of birth in accordance with the ‘Secure Flight’ programme of the United States Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

As study conducted by the World Health Organisation (WHO) has added impetus to the need to pass the airline passenger Bill (or, the tarmac delay Bill) in the United States Congress.

The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed to keep information about bird strikes secret.

The government of the United Kingdom is planning to revoke the restrictions on liquids that airline passengers can carry in their cabin baggage as they fly in and out of Britain.

The government of the United Kingdom is planning to update the regulations of airports in the country with steps aimed at ensuring better convenience and comforts for airline passengers.

The Environment Agency of the United Kingdom has been assigned to supervise the European Union’s forthcoming plan to cap emissions from the aviation sector.

Southwest Airlines, the low-fare airline based in Dallas, Texas, the United States, has agreed to pay a $7.5 million in penalties for a series of serious maintenance lapses.

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), the aviation watchdog of Australia, is to be given greater powers to check the safety of foreign airlines.

Four top airlines of the world have requested that greenhouse-gas emissions by the aviation industry be included in a new, broader global climate pact.

The Bill that Representative James Oberstar (Democrat- Minnesota), chairman of the United States House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, introduced a few days ago requiring the US Department of Transportation to renew airline alliances’ antitrust immunity (ATI) every three years has invited protests from many major airlines.

A federal appeals court of the United States has ruled that the United States Transportation Security Administration (TSA) incorrectly increased annual fees that it imposes on airlines for screening of passengers and property.

The United States National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has proposed 10 rules for news gathering helicopters.

Seven airlines based in the United States have sued the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) alleging that the agency “broke its own rules and may have compromised flight safety when it set new standards for pilot rest times without input from the carriers.”

Southwest Airlines, the low-cost airline based in Dallas, Texas, the United States, is negotiating with the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) seeking to reduce the $10.2-million penalty that the aviation regulator had imposed on the airline for flying its Boeing 737 jets without required inspections.

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.

Canada’s highest court has upheld a ruling that obese and disabled people have the right to two seats for the price of one seat on domestic flights.

Eclipse Aviation, the aircraft manufacturer based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the United States, has received certification for its Eclipse 500 very light jet (VLJ) from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is taking steps to strengthen security vis-à-vis general aviation (GA) “to minimise further the vulnerability of GA aircraft flights being used to deliver illicit materials, transport dangerous individuals or employ aircraft as a weapon.”

The Unites States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has re-issued an urgent airworthiness directive requiring that pilots of Boeing 737 aircraft be advised to pay attention if they hear an in-flight warning horn.

The government of the United Kingdom has agreed to include the aviation and shipping sectors in its ambitious climate change Bill, a law that aims to set targets to cut emissions of greenhouse-gases.

From January 2009, the United States Department of Homeland Security will take over responsibility for checking airline passenger names against government watch-lists.

The United States Transportation Department has found that nine major airlines in the United States outsourced over 70% of their major aircraft maintenance in 2007, compared to 34% in 2003.

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), the airline regulator of Australia, has suspended operation of the small airline Aero Tropics Air Services because of safety concerns.

A former executive of British Airways has agreed to serve eight months in prison and pay a fine of $20,000 (£11,200) for his role in a conspiracy to fix air-cargo prices.

Airlines in India will be penalised if they delay paying compensation to passengers who have been denied boarding because of overbooking or flight cancellation.

The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced new steps as well as 13 recommendations to enhance its supervision of aviation safety.

The stern restrictions now in place on carrying liquids and gels in hand luggage on flights have been extended by another 5 yeas.

The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the aviation watchdog of the United States, is investigating 17 cases in which 11 airlines did not comply with the US government’s safety directives.