Wizz Air has reopened its base in Chisinau, Moldova, with three aircraft. The central European budget carrier says it is resuming 15 routes operated from Chisinau and increasing frequencies on three existing routes. Acting network officer Evelin Jeckel states: "Now passengers can travel with Wizz Air on 21 routes from Chisinau to 11 countries."

Australia’s Regional Express has received a no objection notification from the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) with regards to its intention to acquire 100% of fly-in fly-out services provider National Jet Express. "With this FIRB approval, Rex foresees the completion of the purchase to take place on 30 September, having earlier received no objection from the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission (ACCC)," the operator disclosed to the Australian Securities Exchange today, in a statement dated 16 September. Rex subsidiary Rex Freight and Charter indicated in mid-July that it had agreed to acquire the regional services arm of Cobham Aviation Services Australia. In the same statement, the operator reiterates that it “does not comment on market speculation or rumours” regarding media reports that Virgin Australia is assessing a purchase of Rex.

Ryanair has cancelled a large swathe of its services set for 16 September ahead of a planned strike by French air traffic controllers. The low-cost airline says 420 flights – around 30% of its typical daily count – affecting 80,000 customers will not proceed because of the action, the majority of which are overflights. In contrast, many French services are protected by minimum service laws – a situation the carrier characterises as "inexplicable". It is calling on the EU to step in to protect overflights, "so that passengers who are travelling between Spain, Italy, Ireland, Germany, etc. are not disrupted just because they fly over France while French ATC unions strike". Ryanair believes the authorities should require French ATC unions to engage in arbitration instead of strikes, protect overflights under minimum service laws and allow other European ATCs to manage overflights if strikes do go ahead. "It is inexcusable that passengers who are not even flying to/from France are disrupted because they overfly French airspace at a time when French laws protect French domestic flights," comments operations director Neal McMahon. "It is time that the EU step in and protect overflights so that European passengers are not repeatedly held to ransom by a tiny French ATC union." French aviation regulator DGAC instructed airlines on 14 September to halve services to and from the country ahead of the action, which it expects to cause "cancellations and significant delays" throughout France. As a knock-on impact, the walk out could cause significant disruption to air traffic across the continent, it added. Air France says it plans to operate around 90% of its long-haul flights but just 45% of short and medium-haul services.