The World Cup, the world’s largest sporting event, is set to kick off next month, and more than half a million fervent soccer fans are poised to descend on host country Brazil. Of that total, 11 percent are expected to arrive on business aircraft, and estimates call for approximately 3,000 business aircraft to be operating in the country during the month-long tournament, which begins on June 12. Such numbers will place a heavy strain on Brazil’s aviation services. “Many of the airports in the country are already overcrowded, so adding more general aviation aircraft to the mix will not help the situation,” said a spokesman from World Fuel Services’ BaseOps global flight support division.

Malaysia’s government is to host a gathering to discuss the real-time monitoring of flight data this month, in the wake of the disappearance of flight MH370.
The loss of the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 on 8 March, and the subsequent failure to detect any trace of the aircraft, have served as the “impetus” for the event, says the United Nations’ International Telecommunication Union.It says the government will organise the international dialogue on 27-28 May in Kuala Lumpur to look at various options for monitoring aircraft and flight-recorder data, and to begin charting a “roadmap” to co-ordinate with various interested parties.

An international search of the southern Indian Ocean is continuing for a second day as authorities try to locate a missing Malaysian airliner.:

Five military and civilian aircraft are taking part in the search for debris from flight MH370, which disappeared on 8 March with 239 people on board.

Satellite images released on Thursday showed objects possibly related to the plane in waters far south-west of the Australian city of Perth.

Bad weather hampered Thursday’s search.

“It’s about the most inaccessible spot that you can imagine on the face of the earth, but if there is anything down there, we will find it,” said Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, who is currently visiting Papua New Guinea.

“We owe it to the families of those people (on board) to do no less.”

China Southern Airlines to take delivery of first of 10 777 in Feb-2014, 4 more in late 2014:

China Southern Airlines is scheduled to take delivery of the first of 10 Boeing 777-300ER aircraft in Seattle between 17-Feb-2014 and 21-Feb-2014, according to a Weibo post by Civil Aviation World dated 26-Dec-2013.The aircraft, with B-2099 registration, and has been rolled out from the assembly plant. The carrier is also scheduled to take delivery of four more of the aircraft in 2014, including on in Jul-2014, two in Aug-2014 and one in Dec-2014.

China Southern placed an order for 10 777-300ERs in Feb-2011 to expand its capacity to meet growing demand in Asia Pacific.

Dar Es Salaam Airport emergency services staff commence industrial action:

Tanzania’s Dar Es Salaam International Airport fire and rescue workers reportedly commenced industrial action over issues related to wages, entitlements and working conditions. The dispute reportedly relates to changes made following the transferal of responsibility for emergency services at the airport from Tanzania Airports Authority to the country’s Ministry of Home Affairs in Mar-2013.

American eagle plans to change its name and logo

American eagle plans to change its name and logo, sign a new labour contract with its pilots:
American eagle plans to change its name and logo, with the changes expected to be unveiled in the next few weeks. Eagle president Pedro Fábregas, in a message to employees, stated (Jan-2014) the changes are expected “to distinguish ourselves” from other regional carriers. The message outlined, “American Eagle Airlines experienced a year of change in 2013. Executive Airlines ceased flying operations as we returned the last of our turboprop fleet.
American Airlines began rebranding our aircraft in a new livery for the first time since the inception of the Eagle brand; meanwhile, additional regional carriers began flying under the American eagle brand. Our corporate parent, AMR Corporation, merged with US Airways Group and emerged from bankruptcy to form American Airlines Group. I could list more changes, but the point has been made – there was a lot of change for our company and our people. Looking forward to 2014, there will be both change and opportunity. We will soon unveil a new name and identity for our company. This will allow us to distinguish ourselves from the other American Eagle-branded carriers, with our own name and culture. I am excited to share this with you in the next few weeks. American Eagle will still be the regional brand of American Airlines, just like Delta Connection or United Express”.