Libyan carriers assess damage
September 30, 2014
Libyan carriers, Afriqiyah Airways and Libyan Airlines, have both commenced a formal assessment of the damage caused by the recent conflict in Libya. Tripoli International Airport had sustained significant damage as a result of the recent conflict, which also included damage to several aircraft that had been parked at the facility during the engagement. Initial reports indicate that one Airbus A320, one Airbus A330 and one Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft had been damaged beyond repair, with the majority of the remaining aircraft from each respective airline sustaining at least some level of damage. Libyan Airlines noted that it could potentially take up to 12 months to restore the airport facility to its pre-conflict capacity.
PAL Airlines suspends operations
September 30, 2014
Chilean-based scheduled passenger and charter operator, PAL Airlines, has indefinitely suspended operations. The airline had continued to record increasing net losses over the past several financial periods, prompting the airline’s management to suspend operations. PAL Airlines had its Air Operators Certificate (AOC) temporarily suspended in May 2014, after the airline had failed to meet a number of technical requirements stipulated within its AOC. The airline was then grounded for a second time in August 2014, after the airline had defaulted on its passenger-related taxation charges and aeronautical charges. In mid September, the airline consequently announced that it would be suspending operations while the airline’s key management and creditors entered discussions on how to manage the airline’s assets and potential future operations.
Mexican airports damaged by Hurricane Odile
September 30, 2014
On the 14th of September, Hurricane Odile struck the west coast of Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula. The category 3 hurricane caused extensive damage to several regional areas. Within these regions, La Paz and Los Cabos International Airports sustained significant damage as result of the hurricane. The Mexican airport authority, Grupo Aeroportuairo del Pacifico, responded by temporarily suspending operations to the two airport facilities while repairs were carried out. While several small general aviation aircraft were damaged in the hurricane, the larger commercial aircraft had been withdrawn from the area prior to the hurricane's arrival.