The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is holding its annual general assembly in Cape Town, South Africa, this week. And, it is certainly time that the high-profile event is being staged in Africa. Economic growth is beginning to change some parts of the continent, and air transport is beginning to benefit. Africa will always be a small part of the global air transport market regardless of how much change is coming, but given new trade links and a willingless to loosen regulation, there will be growth potential.

Manufacturers face important questions at this year's Paris air show

Globally, aerospace and defense merger and acquisition activity has been slow for quite awhile, but Curtis Reusser and Mike Dumais have had plenty to do. They have been heading integration teams for the exception to that rule—the new business unit created by United Technologies' $18.4 billion purchase of Goodrich Aerospace last September.

Flybe used to be among the most innovative regional carriers in Europe. But a combination of market trends and regulatory measures is threatening its business model, yet again forcing the company to make deep cuts. The airline is selling its entire slot portfolio at London's Gatwick Airport and is deferring about half of its outstanding order for Embraer 175s for several years. These measures have been taken in order to fund an extensive restructuring plan which was launched last year.

Avionics makers seek to break the 'sight barrier.'

The price of carbon dioxide allowances (EUAs) under the EU Emissions Trading System rallied in May on renewed hopes that EU lawmakers may back a plan proposed by the regulator to withhold supply. EUAs for December 2013 delivery traded as high as €3.80 ($4.92) per metric ton on May 9, up from a low of €2.79 on April 17. April's low was driven by the EU Parliament's rejection of the European Commission's plan to delay or “backload” 900 million EUAs from auctions in 2013-15, and sell them in 2019-20—a move aimed at curbing a supply glut.

What better illustrates the unmanned-aircraft industry's urgent need for airspace integration? On the eve of Paris, Germany is abandoning the €1 billion ($1.29 billion) purchase of four EADS Euro Hawk signals intelligence platforms because the UAS cannot be approved to fly in civil airspace.

While much of the company’s current focus and investment involves its turbofan product line, Cessna is also in the propeller airplane business ... as long as it delivers to the bottom line. The Wichita plane maker plans to defend its leading position in light aircraft, President and CEO Scott Ernest said at the European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (EBACE) in Geneva. “I’m not giving it up,” he said. But he added a caveat: “... as long as it’s profitable.”