Argentina has announced the introduction of a new 30% tax on international air tickets bought in the country, creating an outcry from international airlines as the measure exempts the state-owned flag carrier. Part of the "national economic emergency law" approved by the newly elected Argentinian government, the tax is aimed at stabilising the local economy and the peso's exchange rate. It applies not only to tickets sold in foreign currencies but also to those offered in pesos by foreign airlines that repatriate local revenues converted into other currencies. This creates a competitive advantage for Aerolineas Argentinas' peso-denominated fares on international routes. IATA has expressed its "deep concern over the potential discrimination of international airlines operating in Argentina". In a somewhat comparable situation in 2002, the South American nation gave local airlines a better exchange rate on local airport fees, and several countries reacted by imposing special local surcharges on Aerolineas Argentinas' operations. While a number of airlines and travel agencies have already started charging the new tax – which was introduced with immediate effect – no concrete regulation has been published yet, creating confusion among passengers and airlines. In some cases, passengers are being alerted that an extra 30% has been blocked on their credit cards so that it can be added to the price if it turns out that the yet-to-be-published regulation applies to the ticket.

Source: Cirium

Germany's UFO cabin-crew union has called a three-day strike at Germanwings in a dispute over working conditions, leading to the cancellation of 182 flights. Germanwings, a unit within Lufthansa’s Eurowings subsidiary, says cabin crews began striking at 12:00 CET. The action is to continue through to midnight on 1 January. "This strike is unfounded and incomprehensible to us," Germanwings complains. "We are doing everything to offer our passengers a normal flight schedule between Christmas and New Year." Around 30 of Eurowings' 140 aircraft are operated by the unit. UFO says it called the strike after the failure of negotiations on a collective bargaining agreement that would cover part-time staff. "In unsuccessful negotiations, the employer repeatedly and finally made it clear that we did not want to meet our demand for a part-time contract," the union asserts. "We consciously announce this strike early, so that Germanwings passengers now have at least the chance to be rebooked to other airlines or to choose alternative means of travel." Further strike dates could be announced after 2 January, UFO warns. The union also notes that it is in ongoing conflict not just with Germanwings but also other entities spanned by Lufthansa Group: joint venture SunExpress, Eurowings, CityLine, and Lufthansa mainline. "The situation is most difficult at Lufthansa," notes UFO vice-chairman Daniel Flohr in a video statement. "On the one hand, it deals with the tariff issues of the Lufthansa airline. However, Lufthansa also brings in topics from other airlines and would like to arrange moderation with a duty to maintain peace at Germanwings, for example." Preparatory talks on an arbitration process between Lufthansa and UFO broke down repeatedly in November.

Source: Cirium

Kazakhstan’s government has suspended flight authorisation for local operator Bek Air in the aftermath of the fatal Fokker 100 accident at Almaty. The aircraft had been operating flight Z92100 to the capital, Nur-Sultan, when it lost height after take-off and crashed into a concrete wall, says the Kazakh ministry of industry. It confirms the identity of the aircraft as UP-F1007, a 23-year old airframe, adding that an airworthiness certificate for the Rolls-Royce Tay-powered twinjet was issued in May this year, and was valid until May 2020. The jet was placed on the Kazakh registry in July 2013. The ministry says the aircraft subsequently collided with a two-storey building in the Guldala region of the Talgar district of Almaty. It indicates that the aircraft came to rest some 500m to the right of the centreline, and at the far end, of runway 05R. Meteorological data from Almaty airport at the time of the accident, 07:22, indicate reduced visibility as a result of mist and a slight crosswind from the south-east on the departure runways. Temperatures were around minus 12C. Two pilots, both with valid certificates, and three cabin crew were on board, as well as 93 passengers. Preliminary information, says the government, indicates that the accident has resulted in 12 fatalities. “Details on the circumstances and causes of the accident will be established,” it adds. The government says that Bek Air’s flight certificate and operating authorisation have been “suspended” as of 27 December, until further notice, by the country’s civil aviation administration. Bek Air has nine Fokker 100s, it states. Kazakhstan had been the subject of a long blanket blacklisting by the European Commission, which commenced in 2009 and ended just three years ago after intense efforts by the government to bring safety oversight up to international standards. During the blacklisting only Air Astana had been approved to continue operations to European destinations. The Kazakh Civil Aviation Committee, the air transport regulator, undertook an in-depth overhaul of regulations and safety-management processes. This was recognised by the European Commission and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, and the progress was rewarded with the lifting of the ban in late 2016.

Source: Cirium