The United States civil aviation regulator, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), recently conducted an audit of Ethiopia’s civil aviation regulator, the Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority (ECAA), as a part of the FAA’s International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) program.

The IASA program was established to assist the FAA in identifying the level of oversight undertaken by a country’s civil aviation authority and ensuring these regulators adhere to internationally recognised standards in oversight.

The IASA program categorises counties as either a ‘Category 1’ or ‘Category 2’ country. Airlines operating from a Category 1 country can undertake un-restricted operations to the U.S., while airlines operating from a Category 2 country are subjected to increased inspections at U.S. destinations and carriers that had not previously initiated operations to U.S. cannot commence operations until the Category 2 classification is lifted.

The FAA conducted the audit of the ECAA over a five day period and assessed the regulators administrative procedures, regulatory legislation, operations manuals, oversight of aviation related activities and the qualifications of its professional personnel.

The FAA notified the ECAA in January that they had successfully passed the audit and that Ethiopia will retain its Category 1 classification.

In January 2013, Filipino-based carrier, Cebu Pacific, successfully reached an agreement with Tiger Airways Holdings to acquire the holding group’s minority 40% share of the Tigerair Philippines airline division. The remaining shares, which are distributed amongst a number of local Filipino investors, will also be acquired by Cebu Pacific.

In the short-term to medium-term, Cebu Pacific has cited that it will continue to operate the airline under the Tigerair brand and livery.

Tigerair Philippines had reportedly been operating at a loss since the Tiger Airways Group had invested in the airline in 2010.

As a part of the sale, the two airlines have also established a commercial alliance that will allow the airlines to interline their ticket sales, subsequently generating increased network opportunities for the two carriers.

In late 2013, Etihad Airways announced plans to establish a regional European airline, which would aid the airline in connecting to a number of Europe’s secondary cities.

An agreement was later reached with Swiss-based airline, Darwin Airline’s, which resulted in Etihad Airways initiating plans to acquire a 33.3% share in the airline (pending regulatory approval).

Darwin Airline will continue to operate as a separate airline from Etihad Airways. However, the airline will be re-branded as ‘Etihad Regional’ and feature the Etihad livery on the aircraft fuselage. Etihad Regional will operate an initial fleet of ten 50-seat Saab Turbo-prop aircraft.