The DOT gave Southwest the necessary authority to fly from Houston to Mexico City and Cabo San Lucas after Mexican authorities indicated they would look favorably on Southwest’s request. In doing so, they relied on the ability of both countries to approve “extrabilateral” exemptions for more airlines than the aviation treaty allows. Link
An American pilot who clearly had time on his hands may have produced the lewdest image ever using GPS flight data. The pilot was behind the controls of a single-engine plane when he ‘drew’ a naughty image on a flight path over central Florida last night. Link
Republic Airways Holdings Inc., the world’s largest operator of Embraer E-Jets, has signed a new order for five new Embraer 175 regional jets. Link
Cathay Pacific has selected AerFin Ltd (UK) to provide an end-of-life solution for its fleet of 11 Airbus A340-300 aircraft. Link
Video showing a Pilatus PC-12 taking off from Nelson, British Columbia, CZNL producing some impressive propeller tip vortices. A very interesting effect to see. Link
United Airlines will begin re-banking its Chicago O’Hare hub this month, and reports success with last year’s re-banking of its Denver and Houston hubs. Link
Lufthansa’s latest offer to German pilots has been rejected by their unions this week, but the flag carrier’s CEO has joked in an exclusive interview with Arabian Business that his back-up plan may be to hire outspoken Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker as his union advisor. Link