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Florence, Italy to temporarily close for runway works

Delta Air Lines withdraws objection to SpiceJet's FACP

Having received approval from the Indian Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to codeshare with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KL, Amsterdam Schiphol), Delta Air Lines (DL, Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson) has now withdrawn its objection to SpiceJet's application for US exemption authority and a Foreign Air Carrier Permit (FACP).

The American carrier previously argued that it had been treated unfairly by the Indian authorities. Therefore, it requested the US Department of Transportation (DOT) to withhold SpiceJet's exemption and FACP to enforce reciprocal treatment of Delta by the DGCA.

In particular, Delta objected to the DGCA's refusal to permit it to codeshare on flights to India operated by its Skyteam partners. The Indian authorities ordered the US airline to suspend codesharing with Air France-KLM in June 2020 but subsequently permitted codesharing on Air France flights in November 2020. Since then, Delta has continued to demand permission to codeshare on KLM's flights.

"Earlier this week, Delta received final approval from the Indian Directorate General of Civil Aviation to codeshare to and from...

Chad orders suspension of all scheduled pax flights

Chad has suspended all international and domestic passenger flights for a renewable period of one week from midnight on January 4, 2021, according to a decree issued by Sebgue Nandeh, Minister of Civil Aviation and National Meteorology.

The measure is aimed at containing a rise in COVID-19 cases in N'Djamena, the Chadian capital. Cargo flights will not be affected, according to a notice by the civil aviation authority of Chad (Autorité de l'Aviation Civile du Tchad - ADAC), which is responsible for enforcing the order.

According to the ch-aviation schedules module, at least seven airlines are affected by the ban including Ethiopian Airlines (ET, Addis Ababa), which serves N'Djamena from Addis Ababa and Douala, while Tchadia Airlines (CDO, N'Djamena) connects N'Djamena with Abéché, Moundou, Sarh, and Faya-Largeau. Sky Mali (ML, Bamako) serves the Chadian capital from Bamako, Jeddah, and Niamey. Air France (AF, Paris CDG) operates to N'Djamena from Paris CDG and Bangui. The capital is...

Delta aims to block SpiceJet's US plans, demands reciprocity

Delta Air Lines (DL, Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson) has petitioned the US Department of Transportation (DOT) to deny SpiceJet (SG, Delhi Int'l) r exemption authority and a foreign air carrier permit until the Indian authorities allow Delta to codeshare on more flights to the country.

"Delta objects on the basis of a lack of reciprocity afforded by the Government of India and urges the Department to delay granting approval of the requested authority until such time as the Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation approves certain pending codesharing requests by Delta, consistent with the open skies US-India Air Transportation Agreement," the American carrier said.

Delta claimed the Indian government had ordered it to suspend codesharing on Air France-KLM services to India effective July 2020. While in November, "after significant engagement by Delta and the Department", the authorities reauthorised codesharing on Air France-operated flights, Delta remains banned from doing so on services flown by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KL, Amsterdam Schiphol).

However, SpiceJet replied that...