Aeroflot has sharply criticised comments from the regional governor of Khabarovsk after suggesting the fatal accident involving a Sukhoi Superjet 100 was entirely the result of human factors. Governor Sergei Furgal, said in an interview with regional television channel Gubernia, that the Superjet production would not be halted as a result of the the accident on the 5th of May 2019. But he claimed that official conclusions stated that the aircraft was in “perfect” technical condition and “fully functional”, and that the pilots made “a number of errors”, due to inexperience or agitation, on returning to land at Moscow Sheremetyevo. “This is 100% human factor,” Furgal stated. Aeroflot has condemned Furgal’s comments, describing them as a “blatant attempt” to put pressure on the Interstate Aviation Committee – which is heading the inquiry – and to influence public opinion. “[Aeroflot] requests that [the governor] provides documents confirming the published information about the final results of the investigation,” the carrier says. “In the absence of such, Aeroflot demands an immediate and official denial.”

The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has disclosed positive improvements in its regulatory capabilities following a series of ICAO audits. The authority indicated that ICAO has given it an effective implementation (EI) score of 65%, while ICAO’s targeted figure of 60%. The EI score revolves around the implementation in eight primary fields: legislation, operating regulations, oversight, staff qualification, procedures, licensing, surveillance, and the resolution of safety concerns. In all areas, Thailand says it has improved. “The achievement is the outcome of the commitment of the Prime Minister, Minister of Transport and Ministers in the cabinet, the full backing of the members of the National Legislative Assembly, the collective effort and dedication of all CAAT personnel, and the understanding and common objectives of all aviation operators in Thailand,” says CAAT.

KLM has committed to purchase 75,000 tonnes of biofuel each year from 2022 onwards from a new plant being contructed in Amsterdam. The Dutch carrier says that under a 10-year agreement it will take 75% of the fuel produced annually by SkyNRG at its planned Delfzijl site, which will be Europe’s first dedicated plant for the production of sustainable fuel. KLM, who part owns SkyNRG, says it is the first airline in the world to invest in sustainable aviation fuel on this scale, adding that it is a "concrete step" towards fulfilling its sustainability ambitions. "From 2022, the plant will produce 100,000 tonnes a year, of which KLM will purchase 75,000 tonnes. This will reduce our CO2 emissions by 200,000 tonnes a year, which is equal to the emissions released by 1,000 KLM flights between Amsterdam and Rio de Janeiro," says KLM chief executive Pieter Elbers.