The U.S. civil aviation regulator, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), has officially banned U.S.-based airlines from operating over Syrian and Iraqi airspace due to the increasingly volatile security situation within these regions. The FAA noted that presence of anti-aircraft weapons in these regions posed a significant potential threat to commercial airlines and has consequently banned U.S. airlines from operating over these regions. Any U.S.-registered airline planning to operate within the airspace of these regions is now required to contact the FAA in order to seek approval to operate within the restricted airspace.

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.

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.