Air France has issued this statement: Air France strongly disapproves the announcement of a proposal to introduce an eco-tax varying from 1.5 to 18 euros on tickets for all flights departing from France as from 2020. This new tax would significantly penalize Air France’s competitiveness, at a time where the company needs to strengthen its investment capacity to more rapidly reduce its environmental footprint, notably as part of its fleet renewal policy. France is one of the countries with the most heavily-taxed air transport industry in Europe. These taxes are in addition to the particularly high burden of employer payroll taxation on airlines, whereas Air France’s activity contributes 1.1% of French national GDP, generates more than 350,000 jobs and Air France is the leading private sector employer in the Paris region. This tax would represent an additional cost of over 60 million euros per year for the Air France group, i.e. the equivalent of the measures adopted during the French Air Transport Conference, aimed at strengthening the French flagship carrier’s competitiveness.

Source: World Airline News

Two Airbus A380 operators in the Asia-Pacific region will be sending their widebodies for inspections, following a proposed directive from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency about cracks in the outer rear wing spar. Qantas and Singapore Airlines, both operators of older A380s, confirm with FlightGlobal that a part of their fleet will be affected by the proposed EASA directive. The European agency disclosed on 5 July that cracks have been discovered in this area, notably on top and bottom flanges between ribs 33 and 49. This affects both wings, and could affect the structural integrity of both wings, EASA added. EASA says the directive would be limited to the 25 oldest wing sets on the A380 fleet, although it could subsequently expand to cover additional aircraft.

Source: FlightGlobal

A Virgin Atlantic flight out of New York City was forced to make an emergency landing in Boston following a cabin fire that authorities suspect was sparked by a phone charger. The London-bound plane was rerouted to Boston Logan International Airport, where all 217 passengers and crew were safely evacuated, Massachusetts State Police said in a statement. One passenger refused emergency medical treatment for a smoke-related complaint. The preliminary investigation has homed in on a phone charger, according to Massachusetts State Police, after wires were found protruding between passenger seat cushions where the fire originated. The blaze was extinguished by the flight crew.
When asked about the Virgin Atlantic incident, the FAA said in a statement, “Incident response and investigation is the top priority for the Hazardous Materials Safety Program and the FAA takes all incidents seriously.”

Source: World Airline News