Competitive demonstrations are providing valuable returns for modest outlays

Some civil aviation authorities in developing markets are imposing age limits on aircraft in a quest to force airlines to operate newer equipment.

Launch customer's cancellations move into high-demand weeks

The head of the U.K.'s air navigation service is urging government to take the country's busy airspace into consideration as it examines how to build future capacity. Richard Deakin, CEO of National Air Traffic Services (NATS), says several of the leading ideas to solve London's airport capacity problems have not taken into account the challenges of the airspace around them. Officials deciding on the future of London's airports must plan for more than just concrete and terminal buildings, he says.

The merger deal struck by American Airlines and US Airways has been widely characterized as the endgame for U.S. airline consolidation, a process begun in 1978 when the government deregulated the industry. After all, in just the last five years, the number of mainline carriers has shrunk from six to three, and low-cost behemoth Southwest Airlines gobbled up AirTran Airways. That leaves the nation with just four large airlines. With the “Big Four” collectively accounting for almost three-quarters of U.S.

Decides smaller may be better for Cassidian defense unit

The price of EU Allowances (EUAs) under the EU Emissions Trading System rose in February, but fell back in the second half of the month on questions over whether a fast-track process can be launched to approve the European Commission's bid to delay EUA auctions in 2013-15. EUAs for delivery in December 2013 rose to a peak of €5.30 per metric ton ($6.95) on Feb. 21, after the EU Parliament's environment (ENVI) committee on Feb. 19 backed the EC's proposed amendment to the ETS Directive which would clarify its power to alter the timing of auctions.

The fact that large-scale aerospace and defense manufacturing is no longer as prominent in Southern California as it was in the Cold War-era is not news. But the region still leads the nation in the number of small suppliers and many are trying to come up with new ways of doing business, especially as they see ominous headlines about defense cuts from Washington.